Minister supports moratorium conditionally

HOLON, Israel, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Israel's tourism minister said Saturday the ministry will continue to develop West Bank tourist attractions during a moratorium on settlement construction.

Stas Misezhnikov said his party, the nationalist Israel Beitenu, will only support the moratorium if construction of public buildings in existing settlements is allowed and East Jerusalem is excluded, The Jerusalem Post reported. But he called the agreement for a moratorium "an important diplomatic achievement for Israel."

The ministry will continue work to develop the Herodion, a hill southeast of Bethlehem that served as a fortress from Roman times to the Crusades and is believed to be the burial place of Herod the Great, and the stalagmite caves in Ariel, Misezhnikov said, speaking at a cultural event at the Holon Theater.

Daniel Bar-Simon, a Labor member of Parliament who was also a speaker, said his party fully supports the moratorium.

"This is a historic move and it must be supported. All of Labor must stand behind the move," he said.