In an attempt to quell a backlash by members of his own party after it was revealed Israel agreed to suspend all activity in Judea and Samaria during the security summit in Aqaba, Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on his Twitter account" "Contrary to the tweets, construction, and regulation in Judea and Samaria will continue in accordance with the original planning and construction schedule, without any changes. There is and will not be any freeze."
The head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, who led the Israeli summit delegation to Jordan, also wrote that "contrary to the reports and tweets about the meeting in Jordan, there is no change in Israel's policy. In the coming months, the State of Israel will regulate 9 outposts and approve 9,500 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. There is no construction freeze or change in the status quo on the Temple Mount and there is no restriction on IDF activity."
In a statement issued by the US State Department, it was communicated that Israel has pledged its commitment "to stop discussion of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorization of any outposts for 6 months."
— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) February 26, 2023
It seems that one side is not reporting the truth.
The two statements are in direct contravention to an American announcement at the end of the Aqaba conference which announced Israeli commitments not to continue the wave of construction approvals in the disputed area. According to paragraph three of the American announcement issued on Sunday, shortly after the end of the convention itself, "the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have confirmed their willingness and joint commitment to act immediately to stop the unilateral measures for a period of 3-6 months. This includes an Israeli commitment to stop the discussion on new settlement units for 4 months and stop approval of any outposts for 6 months."
#Breaking: Israeli PM Netanyahu denies White House declaration on Aqaba agreement. "Contrary to tweets, construction & legalization will continue in Judea & Samaria will continue in accord to original plans & building schedule, with no changes. There is & will not be any freeze." https://t.co/iz52iYcEh9
— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي (@NTarnopolsky) February 26, 2023
The section does speak of unilateral measures by both parties, but it does not mention any commitment by the Palestinian Authority, neither to prevent incitement nor to stop payments to Palestinian terrorists and their families. The only unilateral commitment that is detailed concerns construction in Judea and Samaria. The American announcement also concludes, in another section, that both sides will work to reduce tensions, but does not contain any Palestinian commitment to the fight against terrorism.
The statements of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the head of the Negev National Assembly last night say that what has already started will not be stopped. That is, the cabinet decision two weeks ago that decided on the approval of 9 settlement statuses for ten outposts.
US State Dept puts out statement following Aqaba summit that Israel will hold off on settlements for 4-6 months, minutes later Netanyahu tweets “there will not be any freeze.” pic.twitter.com/f2VCXubkcM
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) February 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Israel treats the Aqaba gathering as a security one, while the Palestinians and the Jordanians emphasized from the beginning the political nature they see of this summit meeting, which Israel has been pressured to join by the Biden administration. The American delegation reinforced their agenda in another statement: "The participants emphasized the importance of the Aqaba meeting, the first of its kind in years. They agreed to continue meeting according to this formula, maintain the positive momentum, and expand the agreement towards a broader political process that will lead to a just and sustainable peace"
