US President Barak Obama’s obsession with halting construction in yishuvim throughout Yehuda and Shomron seems to be an integral element of his policy to win over Arab/Muslim support at the expense of Israel, using the “settlements are a stumbling block to peace” mantra that has been embraced with enthusiasm by the European and of course Arab nations.

Elliot Abrams, who served as deputy national security advisor to President George W. Bush stated that despite the denials, there were “understandings” to permit construction to accommodate natural growth in yishuvim. Speaking with Israel’s Channel 1 news host Yaakov Achimeir, Abrams spoke of an agreement on a number of points, stating there was agreement that new settlements would not be established; the government would not give monetary incentives to encourage migration to settlements; construction would only take place within the established borders of settlements; and Arab lands would not be expropriated by Israel.

Abrams explains that the idea was that construction within communities or increasing the height of structures within existing communities would not negatively impact talks or a final status agreement. Abrams mimicked these statements in the Wall Street Journal, sharply contradicting the statements being released by the Obama administration and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who exists they did not receive any such understandings from the previous administration.

Abrams confirmed there is no written document, adding the understandings were reached between Bush and then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adding it would appear the information was not properly transferred to the present administration.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak will be meeting in Washington with US Mideast envoy George Mitchell after a scheduled meeting between Mitchell and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Europe did not take place last week.

Barak is according to local reports planning to order a three-month construction freeze in Yosh communities in an apparent move to appease the Obama administration.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)