US State Secretary John Kerry is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East on Thursday.
As US State Secretary John Kerry is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East on Thursday to mediate a difficult negotiation effort between Israelis and Palestinians, Tel Aviv is planning to announce bids for new settlement construction, a controversial issue opposed by both Palestinians and Americans.
To avoid a potential high-profile clash over the issue, Israel will delay the announcement for the next few days, The New York Times reports, citing an Israeli official.
Å“We will respect John Kerry and not act to spite him,” the Israeli official said, adding that there was an understanding between the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Housing Ministry that no bids would be published until Kerry had gone.
When it comes to settlement building, Å“a day here or there makes no difference,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, according to the newspaper.
Kerry is expected to stay at least until Sunday on his 10th visit to the region in an effort to advance Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Palestinian leaders have condemned Israelâ„¢s repeated announcements of new construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. They argue that the settlement activity undermines any chance of peace.
Palestinian authorities have also said they will fight the illegal construction in the International Criminal Court if the talks fail.
Most of the world, including the US government, considers the settlements illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace but Israel continues to expand them.
Kerry had given Palestinians and Israelis a nine-month deadline to reach a peace deal. The two sides are now four months into the deadline with little progress.
The US top diplomat urges Israelis and Palestinians to agree to a framework for an interim accord ahead of a deal in April, which would launch another year of talks aimed at a comprehensive deal.
ARA/ARA
Source: Press TV