Defiant West Bank settler leaders rejected a personal plea from the Israeli prime minister Thursday to respect a government-ordered construction freeze in their communities, vowing to continue to confront security forces sent to enforce the edict.
Jewish settlers blocked inspectors from entering a West Bank settlement to search for unauthorized construction, the third day of such confrontations. There has been no violence, but authorities have made at least four arrests.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned settler leaders in a bid to defuse the tensions.
Settler leader Danny Dayan called the meeting in Tel Aviv "difficult" and "emotionally charged." Speaking on Israel Radio, he said the settlers would continue their struggle against the freeze, both through civil disobedience and legal challenges. The settlers have scheduled a demonstration next week in Jerusalem.
During the two-hour meeting, Netanyahu told the settlers he respected their right to disagree, but told them that they must respect the rule of law.
"You have the right to demonstrate. You have the right to protest. You have the right to express an opinion, but it's unacceptable not to respect a decision that was taken by law," Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by his office.
An Israeli official said 25 settler representatives attended, and talks were "businesslike." The official, who requested anonymity, said that though settlers criticized the government's decision, most of their complaints were focused on how the order is being carried out. They presented a list of 30 requests on ways to eas the order.
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