Netanyahu Delays E1 Construction Plans

Friday 4th January, Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper said that after supporting the controversial E1 area construction plans in December, it appears that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is hesitating to implement the plans. The newspaper also said that Netanyahu is delaying the construction in E1 area, as the Prime Minister's Office ordered not to file them with the zoning committee at this time, though the plans blueprints were approved by the Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The E1 construction plans raised an international outcry after Netanyahu decided to approve the construction of 3000 new housing units in the area following the Palestinian Authority's UN status upgrade. The Right in Israel was furious with the plans' postponement. The Member of Knesset, Uri Ariel, said "The halting of the E1 plans by the Prime Minister's Office proves that Netanyahu's statements regarding the settlements are only sleight-of-hand," He continued, " A day after the elections we'll rediscover the true Netanyahu, the one who froze construction and succumbed to pressure." Ynet reported that the Prime Minister's Office did not deny the delay, and said that "There is no change in the decision to continue the promotion of the E1 plan."