Lieberman: Palestinian concerns of least importance

"Israel" says its last issue of concern would be the Palestinian dismay at the partial halt of settlement expansions.

"Israel's" Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said that "Israel" disregards Palestinians' opposition to its offer for a partial freeze on its settlement activity.

"The last thing that should interest us is the Palestinians' concern. Before the Palestinian issue, what should interest us are our friends in the world," Reuters quoted Lieberman as saying on Thursday.

"Israel" on Wednesday declared a 10-month suspension on some settlement activity in the West Bank, excluding East Al Quds (Jerusalem).

The acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas has called for a full halt to settlement construction as a condition for reviving peace negotiations that have been suspended since December.

It "brings nothing new. Settlement activity will continue in the West Bank and Al Quds (Jerusalem)" Abbas said, pointing to "Israel's" offer for a partial settlement freeze.