‘No additional settlement freeze,’ Netanyahu tells Kerry

Benjamin Netanyahu has told US Secretary of State John Kerry that there will be “no additional settlement freeze” it has been reported. The exchange came during Kerry’s visit to Jerusalem on Wednesday.

As part of his plan to calm the tense situation and prevent further bloodshed, Kerry asked the Israeli prime minister to give permission to the Palestinians to build in so-called Area C, which is under Israeli security control. According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said that if the international community expects permission to be given to the Palestinians to build, “Israel expects recognition of its right to build in the settlement blocs, in return.” Israel has no legal right whatsoever to build anything on occupied territory, such as the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Kerry, reported Maariv, was “frustrated” by Netanyahu’s response to the settlement issue. The prime minister insisted that the main problem is the “religious incitement” which takes place in the social media.

Responding to Kerry’s demand to facilitate the life opportunities of the Palestinians, Netanyahu said, “The civilian projects that the Palestinians are interested in will only be possible if the level of violence is lowered and Israel’s security needs are met.” The Palestinians remain the only people in the world who are expected to “guarantee” the security of the state which is occupying their land. International law grants the people under occupation to resist that occupation by any means at their disposal.

Israeli security forces, meanwhile, have killed another Palestinian protester in the occupied West Bank, arrested eight others and confiscated 12 buses owned by Al-Tamimi Transport Company, on the pretext that they were used to carry protesters.