Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Ya'alon: Freeze will strengthen Israel-US relation

*Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon spoke to senior Likud ministers following the Political-Security cabinet's vote on a temporary freeze in settlement construction and praised the move.

"The prime minister should be supported. This move will settle the relations with the Americans and strengthen them," Ya'alon said.

*Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented on the settlement freeze issue during the cabinet meeting and said that Israel has a commitment to Jewish settlers in the West Bank. "At the end of 10 months we shall resume construction," Lieberman said.

*Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said after the vote, "It’s an important and historic decision, one of the most important decisions this government has made. The decision will leave the Palestinians with only one choice – join the political negotiations. They have no reason to stall anymore."

*An official Kadima statement read, that the party "supports any move that will return Israel to negotiations toward a final settlement, which will preserve Israel's national and security interests, just like we conducted and from the point they left off."