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Israel confirms US put assurances in writing

21 November 2010 03:41 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The U.S. has given written assurance to Israel that it won’t be pressured to impose any additional settlement freezes after it accepts a limited 90 day construction moratorium aimed at reviving Mideast peace talks, a top Israeli official said Saturday, APA reports quoting â€œAssociated Pressâ€.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from meetings with U.S. officials last week with an American incentive package designed to revive Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
The Palestinians left the talks soon after they begun after a dispute over Israeli construction in the West Bank, which Palestinians claim as part of their future state.
The U.S. proposal would mean Israel would cease settlement building for 90 days in return for U.S. pledges to veto anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations and a fleet of next-generation stealth fighter planes.
The proposal does not include a freeze on building in east Jerusalem, where Palestinians envision their future capital.
Netanyahu has asked for the assurances in writing in part to appease some members of his cabinet who oppose the deal.
"A commitment not to ask an additional freeze after 90 days was written by the Americans," National Security Advisor Uzi Arad said Saturday afternoon to Israeli Channel 2 TV.
It was the first time the Israelis have confirmed a written commitment was made.
Arad also told the channel that the F-35 stealth fighter jets are not a gift and that Israel will be buying them. "Payment agreements need to be worked out," he said.
U.S.-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in late September, just weeks after they were launched, following the expiration of a 10-month Israeli slowdown on settlement construction.
The Palestinians say they cannot negotiate while Israel continues to build homes for Jews in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The U.S. offered Israel the incentives package in an attempt to end the impasse by bringing the Palestinians back to talks.
Israel and the Palestinians are supposed to try to and work out a deal on their future borders during the 90-day freeze period. Once borders are settled on, Israel could then resume building on any territories it expects to keep under a future peace deal.
Netanyahu has signaled that he is ready to comply to the American proposal but wants written assurances from the U.S. that he will not have to extend the settlement freeze after the three months are up.
Palestinian officials were not immediately available for comment.