Israel Policy Forum Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu`s Decision to Freeze Construction in East Jerusalem

Israel Policy Forum (IPF) "hailed" reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to freeze a project to construct some 900 apartments in East Jerusalem, a day after he held talks with U.S. Special Envoy Mitchell.

"This decision, combined with Israel's reported expansion of the types of building material it will allow into Gaza are important steps by the Israeli government that can ease the path leading to  successful negotiations over the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel," said IPF Executive Director Nick Bunzl in a statement released today.  

"These two decisions offer evidence that the Obama administration's demonstrated commitment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can improve facts on the ground while offering all the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict a genuine, renewed opportunity for peace and stability in the region," Bunzl said. 

"These actions, though significant, are symbolic and require responsive and additional steps by all the parties," IPF's statement continued.  "The Egyptians have been playing important mediating roles. It is time for the Palestinian Authority, for example, to stop incitement and Arab states to make symbolic gestures toward Israel that will advance President Obama's efforts."

"It is precisely at a time when progress toward resolving the conflict is being made that the Obama administration's approach should be backed by parties in and out of the region. IPF therefore calls on members of Congress and the American Jewish community to vigorously express their support for these policies," Bunzl declared. "That is how they can sustain the efforts to achieve a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian relations."