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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Israeli settlers reject PM's plea | Israeli settlers reject PM's plea |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Jewish settlers have rejected an attempt by the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to defuse tensions over a pause in building in the West Bank. | Jewish settlers have rejected an attempt by the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to defuse tensions over a pause in building in the West Bank. |
| They vowed to continue a civil disobedience campaign stopping inspectors from entering settlements, now in its third day. | They vowed to continue a civil disobedience campaign stopping inspectors from entering settlements, now in its third day. |
| Speaking on Israeli radio, settlers described the meeting with PM as "difficult and emotionally charged". | Speaking on Israeli radio, settlers described the meeting with PM as "difficult and emotionally charged". |
| The settlers have scheduled a mass demonstration next week in Jerusalem. | The settlers have scheduled a mass demonstration next week in Jerusalem. |
| The Palestinians have refused to resume peace talks with Israel unless it completely halts all settlement construction, and has complained that the suspension does not go far enough. | The Palestinians have refused to resume peace talks with Israel unless it completely halts all settlement construction, and has complained that the suspension does not go far enough. |
| Mr Netanyahu declared last week that Israel would restrict residential building in the West Bank for 10 months, but settlers vowed to defy the policy. | Mr Netanyahu declared last week that Israel would restrict residential building in the West Bank for 10 months, but settlers vowed to defy the policy. |
| Settlers have vowed to ignore the building work suspension | Settlers have vowed to ignore the building work suspension |
| There has so far been no violence as inspectors tried to enter settlements to enforce the policy this week, but 13 people have been arrested. | |
| At a two-hour meeting with settler leaders on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu promised that building work could resume after the 10-month lull. | At a two-hour meeting with settler leaders on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu promised that building work could resume after the 10-month lull. |
| "You may demonstrate, protest and express your opinions, but it cannot be that you will not abide by decisions which have been made according to law," he said. | "You may demonstrate, protest and express your opinions, but it cannot be that you will not abide by decisions which have been made according to law," he said. |
| "Nothing came out of the meeting," settler leader Pinhas Walerstein told AFP, adding that he did not believe building would resume in 10 months' time. | "Nothing came out of the meeting," settler leader Pinhas Walerstein told AFP, adding that he did not believe building would resume in 10 months' time. |
| Another leader, Danny Dayan, told Israel radio the settlers would continue to oppose the building restrictions. | Another leader, Danny Dayan, told Israel radio the settlers would continue to oppose the building restrictions. |
| Earlier, Defence Minister Ehud Barak eased rules on the procedure for granting permission for minor repairs and improvements to existing houses. | Earlier, Defence Minister Ehud Barak eased rules on the procedure for granting permission for minor repairs and improvements to existing houses. |
| The Israeli state also said in a submission to the High Court of Justice that its ability to remove outposts - settlements illegal even under Israeli law - might be reduced because of the resources required to enforce the building curbs. | The Israeli state also said in a submission to the High Court of Justice that its ability to remove outposts - settlements illegal even under Israeli law - might be reduced because of the resources required to enforce the building curbs. |
| Palestinians say the new building restrictions do not go far enough, particularly because they do not include East Jerusalem. | Palestinians say the new building restrictions do not go far enough, particularly because they do not include East Jerusalem. |
| About half a million Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and the Palestinians claim for a future state. | About half a million Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and the Palestinians claim for a future state. |
| The settlements are illegal under international law. | The settlements are illegal under international law. |