Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to push his cabinet to freeze most construction on settlements in the West Bank for another 90 days in order to break a deadlock in peace talks with the Palestinians, a U.S. official was quoted as saying by the NYT. In return, Washington has offered Israel a package of security incentives and fighter jets worth $3 billion, the official said. The United States would also block any moves in the United Nations Security Council that would try to shape a final peace agreement.
The partial freeze would not include occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli leader convened a meeting of the inner council of his cabinet in Jerusalem on Saturday night, and he will meet with the full cabinet on Sunday.
This proposed 90-day freeze would be nonrenewable and Obama administration would not ask for further extensions, the official said.
