Netanyahu Approves The Construction Of 25 Units In Keidar Illegal Settlement

Saed Bannoura

Tuesday December 01, 2009 - IMEMC

While peace talks are obstructed due to Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement activities, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, approved the construction of 25 units for Jewish settlers in Keidar illegal settlement in the West Bank.

Netanyahu also said his government would compensate settlers "affected by the temporary settlement freeze".

He added that the 25 units are not subjected to his cabinet’s decision to temporarily freeze settlement activities.

Netanyahu asked Israel’s Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, to ensure the construction of the 25 units after he learnt that the units were reportedly approved before the cabinet approved the so-called settlement freeze.

His decision was made after the settlers filed an appeal to his bureau chief, Natan Esehl, Israeli Ynet News reported.

Netanyahu also told his cabinet ministers that he would weigh the possibility of offering financial compensation to the 'affected’ settlers.

He was supposed to hold a meeting with head of the so-called 'Judea and Samaria regional council heads’ which stands for the regional council of West Bank settlements, but had to cancel after his physician recommended that he takes another day of rest due to a recent health issue.

On Tuesday morning dozens of fundamental settlers blocked roads leading to different West Bank settlements to prevent government inspectors in charge of ensuring settlements freeze from reaching settlements included in the freeze order.

The settlers also vowed to protest in front of the home of a senior official of the Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, if his agency supports the temporary freeze.