Professor Moshe Arens has criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to freeze Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. Interviewed by Arutz Sheva, the former Foreign and Defense Minister called the decision a blow to the rights of the Jews living in the area and said it would not advance the peace process, adding, "Settlements were never a hurdle to peace and a step like this is not useful."

Arens said the time has come to stop appeasing the United States all the time. Noting that Israel is an ally of the Americans, he said, "We don't take orders from them," and noted disagreements between the two in the past. In spite of the criticism, he said the Netanyahu government was the best available, and in politics, one must be realistic.