Tel-Chai Nation

Someone in the Jewish Home party has said that Netanyahu has a "freeze obsession". In a way, that's almost right. Here's the latest news now on how he's signaled he's willing to accept a new Obama administration proposal to freeze construction in Judea-Samaria. There's fortunately opposition within Likud to what's being proposed:

In a forum of Likud ministers that met prior to the cabinet meeting, Moshe Ya'alon called the American proposal a "honey trap that will plunge us into another crisis with the Americans in the future, in three months or maybe even before then."

Deputy Knesset Speaker Danny Danon (Likud) also entered the debate and held an emergency round of consultations with key cabinet members to shore up their support for settlers.

Danon especially focused on ministers that have voiced their opposition an additional freeze such as Benny Begin, Limor Livnat and Moshe "Boogie" Yaalon.

During his conversations Danon reminded the ministers that, "a second construction freeze has never been, and never should be, a viable policy option for the Netanyahu Government. A few more F-16s cannot be a replacement our long-held ideals, commitments and promises to the citizens of Israel."

Coalition head Ze'ev Elkin said he believes the majority of Likud ministers and MKs will oppose Netanyahu's proposal to approve the American plan. Referring to the international political assistance offered by the US in exchange for the extended freeze, Elkin said that it is possible the assistance could be of more harm to Israel than it is helpful.

The Shas party has come under fire for suggesting they would abstain if only Obama would write them a letter promising this wouldn't go further than what's being proposed now, and it doesn't take much to realize that would only be an empty promise. Here's another report with video included of Danny Danon's emergency meeting.

Update: Weasel Zippers has more.

Labels: Israel, political corruption, United States