Butifnegotiations were already on track, Mr Netanyahu could point to them as reason-or pretext-to stopa new building splurge, while still keeping his pro-settlerpartners sweet.
In the first three months of Mr Barak's watch, 2, 600 tenders were issued for new settlement homes and roads, an even faster rate of issuance than under Mr Netanyahu's avowedly pro-settler government.
He took a jab at the pro-settler Jewish Home party, saying that those who refused to align with specific sectors of Israeli society are acting like those around the world who wage boycotts against settlement activities.