Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told reporters Wednesday night that the Security Cabinet took a "bold step" in voting to freeze construction for 10 months in Judea and Samaria, characterizing it as "difficult and painful," but essential.
Netanyahu spoke briefly with reporters following a meeting that was boycotted by Shas ministers who said their party would never vote for a construction freeze, "not even for one day."
The prime minister did not take questions following his statement, in which he said that leadership is "judged by the ability to make the necessary decision when called upon to do so.
"I committed myself to enabling the residents of Judea and Samaria to maintain a normal life and as such, synagogues, schools and kindergartens, along with public buildings, will be built as needed towards achieving this goal," he said.
This point was a change from the prime minister's initial proposal, publicized earlier in the day, in which he said he would not permit any construction whatsoever in Judea and Samaria for the next 10 months.
Netanyahu did not change his position vis a vis Jerusalem, however, underscoring his insistence that building be allowed to continue undisturbed in every neighborhood the capital.
"My position with regard to Jerusalem is known," he said. "There will be a homogenous balance, and Arabs and Jews alike will be allowed to build."
Despite the walkout by the Shas faction, Netanyahu said the freeze was the only option the government of Israel could take. He made it clear that the current paralysis in talks with the Palestinian Authority, and the dissatisfaction expressed by the United States were the driving forces behind the move.
"The Cabinet of Israel today took a step in the right direction, calling on the PA to take a 'bold step' and meet us at the negotiating table," he said.
Scorecard: Who Voted For and Against
The Cabinet voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, with eleven ministers supporting the plan. The plan now goes to the general Cabinet for a vote on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Ministers Benny Begin and Moshe Ya'alon were among those who backed the plan. Only Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau voted against the proposal.
The two Shas ministers, Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Housing and Construction Minister Ariel Atias, both absented themselves from the vote.
"We will never agree to a freeze on settlement construction, even for one day," Yishai said, adding that the plan would "not strengthen anything and will be perceived as a sign of weakness."