MIDDLE EAST Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure at home, including from within his own government, to stand firm against US calls for an end to the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
With the US administration increasing its pressure by the day, Israel’s prime minister has won the overwhelming support of fellow ministers and party colleagues for his stance. Speaking this week, Mr Netanyahu said his government “will not agree to freeze life in the settlements” – rejecting the latest plea by Barack Obama, the US president, for a complete halt to the growth of settlements.
