Israel reiterates promise not to build settlements

Jerusalem, June 28 (ANI): Responding to international demands that Israel freeze construction in the West Bank, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's media advisor said Israel would do so.

"The government of Israel has already articulated that we will not build new settlements, nor will we expropriate further land for the purpose of settlement building," the Jerusalem Post quoted Mark Regev, as saying.

The comments followed statements on Friday by both the Group of Eight summit of the world's major industrialized nations and the Middle East Quartet - the US, Russia, EU and UN - urging Israel to freeze all settlement activity.Let's be clear here. The final fate of the settlements will be determined in negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Our position is that neither the Israeli nor Palestinian side should take any steps that could prejudge final status negotiations. In the interim, our position is that inside existing communities normal life should be allowed to continue," Regev said.he G8 and Quartet meetings took place in Italy, as foreign ministers of the G8 countries met to discuss various issues - mainly recent events in Iran.

G8 nations also called on Israelis and Palestinians to renew direct negotiations over all disputed issues. (ANI)