Palestinians reject settlement freeze

JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Israel's announcement of a ten-month West Bank settlement freeze is insufficient and will not lead to the renewal of peace talks, a Palestinian official said.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the Israeli cabinet voted to impose the freeze, and allow 3,000 housing units currently under construction to be completed, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said there was nothing new in Israel's steps.

"This is not a moratorium. Unfortunately we hoped he (Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu) would commit to a real settlement freeze so we can resume negotiations, and he had a choice between settlements and peace, and he chose settlements," Maan news agency quoted Erekat saying.

Nabil Abu Rudeneh, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians would not accept a proposal that does not include a freeze on construction in east Jerusalem, Haaretz said Thursday.

In a telephone interview from Argentina, where he is accompanying Abbas, Abu Rudeneh said any deal that does not include Jerusalem will be rejected immediately, the newspaper said.

Netanyahu said he hoped the Palestinians and the Arab world will seize the opportunity to work together to forge a new beginning, a statement issued by his office said.

"I have already said that we will not build new settlements and that we would not expropriate additional land for existing settlements. I said we would also restrain settlement activity, and that's exactly what we decided to do today," his office quoted him saying.

The Israeli prime minister added the freeze will not affect construction currently underway and will not include schools, kindergartens, synagogues and public buildings, the statement said.