Netanyahu denies settlement halt after Jordan summit: ‘There won’t be any freeze’
A joint statement signed by Israel, U.S., Palestinan Authority, Jordan and Egypt said Israel had agreed to 'stop discussion of any new settlement units for four months'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Sunday, denying that Israel had agreed to a settlement freeze at an international summit in Jordan.
Following the summit in Aqaba, Jordan, in which Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and the U.S. participated, a joint communique was issued, stating that Israel had agreed to “stop discussion of any new settlement units for four months and to stop authorisation of any outposts for six months.”
This comes after Israel announced earlier this month that it was moving forward with legalising nine illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank, as well as approving roughly 10,000 new units in other settlements.
Shortly after the statement was released by the White House, Netanyahu denied the pledge, saying “the building and authorisation in Judea and Samaria will continue according to the original planning and building schedule, with no change. There is not and will not be any freeze.”
National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, who was part of the Israeli delegation, issued a similar statement, saying: “Contrary to reports and tweets about the meeting in Jordan, there is no change in Israeli policy.”
“In the coming months, the State of Israel will authorize nine outposts and approve 9,500 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. There is no construction freeze or change in the status quo on the Temple Mount; neither is there any restriction on IDF activity,” Hanegbi added.
The meeting in Aqaba was an attempt to lower the flames between Israelis and Palestinians. Over 60 Palestinians have been killed in 2023 alone, most of whom Israel says were either directly or indirectly involved in terrorism.
As the meeting in Aqaba took place, two Israeli civilians were killed in a terror attack in the West Bank. Finance Minister Smotrich and Likud lawmaker Danny Danon demanded that the Israeli delegation return from the summit “immediately” following the attack.
Smotrich, who said he had ni clue what was discussed at the “superfluous” summit, said there wouldn’t be a freeze in settlement construction for whatsoever.
Ben-Gvir also dismissed what was agreed upon in the summit, saying “What happened in Jordan (if it happened), will remain in Jordan.”
The joint communique also stated that all parties “recognise the importance of upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem in word and practice, and emphasises in this regard the Hashemite Custodianship / special role of Jordan.”
Israeli security experts have warned in recent months that the already escalating situation between the Israelis and Palestinians might explode during the upcoming month of Ramadan, where thousands of Palestinians visit the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount.
Previous years have seen severe clashes on the Temple Mount during Ramadan between Israeli security forces and Palestinians.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
