国际英语新闻：Israeli PM weighing "goodwill" gestures to Palestinians

Netanyahu's ambiguity on whether he will eventually order to extend the construction freeze -- either in full or in part -- has created tensions among the hawkish members of his right-wing coalition government who oppose granting any concessions to the Palestinians.

Hard-line Likud ministers and coalition parties have already begun to pressure Netanyahu and his Cabinet ministers not to continue the construction freeze beyond its expiration date.

Despite the pressures, sources close to Netanyahu told Xinhua that a compromise with the Palestinians -- a decision to extend the construction moratorium -- will win a majority within his Political-Security Cabinet, which is why the Israeli premier will ask the approval of his cabinet, instead of that of the government, as he did last time.

"It seems that Netanyahu will face a hard time getting this decision approved by the Cabinet since most Likud ministers, including the Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas Parties, object to any move which will extend the construction freeze," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

"However, under certain conditions, and with a compromise, in which construction will resume in the large settlement blocs and the construction freeze implemented only at isolated communities, the decision may receive the support of several Likud and Labor ministers," he added.

Netanyahu told his ministers those gestures will be made only when Israel sees that the Palestinians are "serious in their intentions to advance through the (peace) process."

But an unnamed minister said that even if such a decision would be approved by the cabinet, Netanyahu should remember that his government is entering its second year and "any political shakeup may be dangerous."

The goodwill gestures to the Palestinians currently being discussed are seen as a potential "creative solution" to the construction freeze dilemma that is threatening to derail the peace talks, whose chances of success are already perceived as nearing zero.