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Israel

Abbas in dilemma over settlements

September 10, 2009 12:49

By

Ben Lynfield,

Ben Lynfield

1 min read

Israel’s approval of 450 new housing units in the settlements this week has placed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a vulnerable position, as he may have to make an embarrassing climbdown from his refusal to resume negotiations without a full settlement freeze.

Mr Abbas has for years been criticised by fellow Palestinians for ostensibly being willing to pursue talks with Israel under any conditions. However, encouraged by an apparently sympathetic Obama administration, he took an uncharacteristically tough stand this summer, with aides insisting there would be no loopholes in a settlement freeze.

“You leave a little hole for a rabbit, next there will be an elephant going through,” said former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Nabil Shaath.

But according to Israeli reports, not confirmed by Washington, the freeze being discussed with the Americans will not apply to East Jerusalem, to 2,500 units under construction on the West Bank or to public buildings.

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