Israel settlement freeze off the menu
2010-10-06 16:52
Jerusalem - Israel's security cabinet met on Wednesday but, despite requests by several ministers, the renewal of a freeze on Jewish settlement building was not discussed, an observer at the session said.
Ministers had asked that the 15-member policy-making body debate whether to accede to international demands for a renewal of a 10-month moratorium which expired last week.
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon, a non-voting observer at Wednesday's meeting told Israeli public radio the issue was not put on the agenda and did not say what was discussed at the closed-door meeting, which officials described as "routine."
Ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's seven-member inner circle had met on Tuesday but again, the issue of the freeze was not discussed, despite Palestinian threats to bolt peace talks if it is not reimposed.
Netanyahu had been expected to use both forums to try to achieve some kind of compromise over the settlements ahead of a key Arab summit in Libya on Friday at which the Palestinians are expected to formalise their decision.
Simhon, of the doveish Labour party, said he feared that the window of opportunity for forging an agreement with the Palestinians was about to slam shut.
"I'm definitely concerned," he told the radio.
"I think we find ourselves at a moment of truth at which the leadership of the state of Israel must take significant and difficult political decisions."
