PM: ’We can’t freeze settlements’

Agence France-Presse

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"We can't freeze life in the settlements," Netanyahu said, according to a senior official in the premier's office.

"There are reasonable demands and unreasonable demands. The fate of the settlements will be decided in a final status agreement," he was quoted as telling parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee.

He stressed that while the government would not halt expansion within existing settlements, it will not build new settlements and will dismantle outposts, which Israel considers unlawful.

"On the issue of construction within settlements we still haven't reached an understanding with the Americans," Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, at least four Palestinians were wounded yesterday in attacks by Jewish settlers angered at the possibility the state may dismantle outposts in the West Bank, medics and witnesses said.

Jewish extremists blocked roads, hurled rocks at drivers, burned fields, cut down olive trees and opened fire toward Palestinians who tried to chase the trespassers from their fields in the northern West Bank, witnesses said.