NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is opposed to the policy announced Wednesday in Jerusalem by the Israeli government to institute a freeze on all Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria for a ten month period.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “We would oppose freezing Jewish construction in any event, as Jews have a right to live in their religious and historic homeland. It would be wrong to deny Jews the right to live and build in these territories, simply because they are Jews. But we particularly oppose a freeze on Jewish construction in this instance as it is unilateral. Israel has not received any comparable, reciprocal concessions from either the Palestinians or the Arab states.
“At a minimum, Palestinian Arabs should also freeze Arab construction in Judea and Samaria so as not to permit Palestinian Arabs to prejudice a final settlement. As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu himself said in April to former Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, ‘If Israelis can’t build homes on the West Bank, Palestinians shouldn’t be allowed to either. …If someone wishes to build a home in an existing settlement, I don’t think this is a problem (Haaretz, April 24, 2009).
“Even President Barack Obama opposed unilateral concessions last April by Israel when he said, ‘My hope is that we’re going to see movement not only from the Israelis but also from the Palestinians around issues of incitement and security, from Arab states that show their willingness to engage Israel. All sides must be willing to move off the rut we’re in currently.’
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Preceding provided by Zionist Organization of America