“Israeli” Ministers Reject Bill to Foil Settlement Freeze

Local Editor

An "Israeli" ministerial committee on Sunday rejected a move that would have hampered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from extending a settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank, officials said.

The move, in the form of a bill which would have given parliament a veto over any extension of the freeze after it ends in September, came a day before Netanyahu heads to Washington for talks with US President Barack Obama.

"A majority voted against the bill," an official present at the meeting said without giving details. "Israeli" media said eight of the 13 ministers present voted against the draft legislation.