Israel - Politics

Minister summoned over settlement comments

Article published on the 2009-08-20 Latest update 2009-08-20 15:43 TU

Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon
(Photo: AFP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon for a meeting on Thursday where the Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported, the minister would receive a “severe reprimand.” Netanyahu has reportedly been angered by Yaalon's calls for the government to reject US demands for a freeze on Israeli settlement expansion.

"There are issues on which one should say “that’s enough”… I believe that Jews have the right to live anywhere in the Land of Israel forever,” Yaalon said.

Making the comments on Israel’s Channel 2 on Wednesday night, Yaalon said he was “not afraid of the Americans."

The meeting comes at a time when Netanyahu seeks to ease tensions with the United States which have escalated recently over the controversial issue of Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

Although Netanyahu has not agreed to freeze settlement production, he has made gestures towards the US government, saying he will not allow construction tenders until 2010.

Meanwhile, the US announced on Wednesday, that it had complained to Israel about travel restrictions imposed on US citizens of Palestinian origin.

Israel has allegedly been issuing entry stamps to some US passport holders that state they cannot transit through the country and are only allowed in the Palestinian authority.