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| Settlers stage Jerusalem protest | Settlers stage Jerusalem protest |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Jewish settlers and their supporters are staging a rally in Jerusalem in protest at a curb on settlement building in the West Bank. | Thousands of Jewish settlers and their supporters are staging a rally in Jerusalem in protest at a curb on settlement building in the West Bank. |
| Demonstrators gathered outside the residence of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, days after he ordered a 10-month lull in permits for new settlement homes. | Demonstrators gathered outside the residence of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, days after he ordered a 10-month lull in permits for new settlement homes. |
| The order followed US calls for a total freeze in settlement building. | The order followed US calls for a total freeze in settlement building. |
| Israel said the move was aimed at helping restart peace talks, but Palestinians said it was insufficient. | Israel said the move was aimed at helping restart peace talks, but Palestinians said it was insufficient. |
| Jewish settlers have been angered by the moratorium, ordered by Mr Netanyahu's right-leaning government, ordinarily supportive of settlement activity in the West Bank. | Jewish settlers have been angered by the moratorium, ordered by Mr Netanyahu's right-leaning government, ordinarily supportive of settlement activity in the West Bank. |
| AT THE SCENE Paul Wood, BBC News, Jerusalem In the end, the Jerusalem police said about 8,000 settlers attended this demonstration - less than the tens of thousands which their leadership had predicted - but still enough to fill the streets outside the prime minister's official residence. | AT THE SCENE Paul Wood, BBC News, Jerusalem In the end, the Jerusalem police said about 8,000 settlers attended this demonstration - less than the tens of thousands which their leadership had predicted - but still enough to fill the streets outside the prime minister's official residence. |
| There was a lot of anger here directed towards the United States - "US, take your money and leave us alone" was one of the placards I saw, because it is American pressure on Israel which has brought about these building restrictions in the occupied territories. | There was a lot of anger here directed towards the United States - "US, take your money and leave us alone" was one of the placards I saw, because it is American pressure on Israel which has brought about these building restrictions in the occupied territories. |
| But the real anger was reserved for Mr Netanyahu and for the Israeli government - these people told me they had voted for the Israeli government and got a policy completely opposite to that which they had been expecting. | But the real anger was reserved for Mr Netanyahu and for the Israeli government - these people told me they had voted for the Israeli government and got a policy completely opposite to that which they had been expecting. |
| Nearly 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built on occupied territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. | Nearly 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built on occupied territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. |
| Settlement building in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law - although Israel disputes this. | Settlement building in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law - although Israel disputes this. |
| Protesters waved signs and banners carrying defiant slogans including "We will continue to build", and "Stop Iran's nukes, not our homes". | |
| A spokesman for the protesters, Bobby Brown, who is a former advisor to Mr Netanyahu, told the BBC settlers were angry at the way they were being treated: | |
| "We believe we have a right as Jews to settle where we are. To say there's going to be a freeze based on religion - that a Muslim can build and a Jew can't - is not something we expect in this day and age." | |
| Meanwhile, Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now says more homes are under construction per inhabitant in the West Bank than inside Israel despite the recent curbs. | Meanwhile, Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now says more homes are under construction per inhabitant in the West Bank than inside Israel despite the recent curbs. |
| The group said 1,167 homes were being built for every 100,000 West Bank settlers, compared to just 836 for the same number of Israeli residents. | The group said 1,167 homes were being built for every 100,000 West Bank settlers, compared to just 836 for the same number of Israeli residents. |
| More building | More building |
| Under the new Israeli policy, permits for new homes in the West Bank will not be approved for 10 months. | Under the new Israeli policy, permits for new homes in the West Bank will not be approved for 10 months. |
| But municipal buildings and about 3,000 homes already under construction will still be allowed to go ahead. | But municipal buildings and about 3,000 homes already under construction will still be allowed to go ahead. |
| Scuffles have erupted in the past week as Israeli settlers held protests and tried to block building inspectors from entering their communities to enforce the new rules. | Scuffles have erupted in the past week as Israeli settlers held protests and tried to block building inspectors from entering their communities to enforce the new rules. |
| Israeli settlement in close-up Palestinian builders' dilemma Obstacles to peace: Settlements | Israeli settlement in close-up Palestinian builders' dilemma Obstacles to peace: Settlements |
| But, on the basis of the official figures, Peace Now said "the settler's claims of discrimination and attempts to 'dry out' the settlements have no basis in reality". | But, on the basis of the official figures, Peace Now said "the settler's claims of discrimination and attempts to 'dry out' the settlements have no basis in reality". |
| "Even during the freeze a larger number of housing units than the national average will be built in the occupied territories," it said. | "Even during the freeze a larger number of housing units than the national average will be built in the occupied territories," it said. |
| Israeli politicians and media have been referring to the restrictions as a "freeze", although Palestinians say they are far from the total building halt, including in East Jerusalem, that they have demanded. | Israeli politicians and media have been referring to the restrictions as a "freeze", although Palestinians say they are far from the total building halt, including in East Jerusalem, that they have demanded. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says the settlers feel betrayed by a government they thought was on their side. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says the settlers feel betrayed by a government they thought was on their side. |
| Israel could just be acting tactically, trying to make the Palestinians look like the roadblock to negotiations, our correspondent says. | Israel could just be acting tactically, trying to make the Palestinians look like the roadblock to negotiations, our correspondent says. |
| But even so, he adds, the Israeli government may have to choose between peace with the Palestinians or peace with the settlers. | But even so, he adds, the Israeli government may have to choose between peace with the Palestinians or peace with the settlers. |
| Are in the area? Have you been affected by the protests? Send us your comments and pictures using the form below | Are in the area? Have you been affected by the protests? Send us your comments and pictures using the form below |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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