Israel's Construction Moratorium Ends

Israel's Construction Moratorium Ends
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Israel's ten-month moratorium on new housing construction in the West Bank expired Sunday, adding tension to Middle East peace talks (WashPost). U.S. diplomats worked to keep the peace process going, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not immediately carry out a threat to quit negotiations. Settlers in the West Bank resumed construction of a new daycare center, vowing to resume settlement work throughout the territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the settlers to show "restraint and responsibility" after the freeze expiration to smooth over the diplomatic impact of resuming building. Settler leaders said there would not be a surge of large-scale construction but a gradual resumption of building. U.S. official said they were working with both Israelis and Palestinians to find a compromise that would allow for continued talks. Abbas said he would seek counsel on the issue (NYT) from the Fatah movement, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Arab league. Fatah members have pressured him not to agree to talks without a halt to Israeli settlement construction. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said there is a "50-50" chance of reaching a deal (BBC) on the freeze.

Analysis:

A Daily Star editorial says the only palatable trade-off if settlement construction resumes "is for both states to agree to a small amount of settlements, contiguous to what is likely to become Israeli land in a future territory agreement."

In the Jerusalem Post, Ehud Olmert says the issue of the settlement freeze is "marginal." The United States, and now the Palestinian leadership, "have been preoccupied with an issue whose success or failure will not really influence the diplomatic process in our region."

CFR's Charles Kupchan argues that the Palestinians will achieve statehood by taking what they can get--not what they want--from Israel.