Palestinian Authority officials expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's unprecedented decision to stop Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria for ten months.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas released a statement through his spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, saying the freeze in Judea and Samaria was inadequate because it did not include Jerusalem.

This, while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was facing calls from within his own party to resign and from within his own government to recant the freeze.

"Jerusalem is the red line for the Palestinians and Arabs," Abu Rudaineh told reporters at a news conference in Argentina, where he and Abbas are travelling. "Any return to negotiations must be on the basis of a complete settlement freeze, and in Jerusalem foremost." 

Hamas terrorists also expressed contempt for the Israeli cave-in, calling the freeze a "cosmetic decision without content." Sami Abu Zukhri, a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, called on the PA not to be tempted to resume negotiations with Israel because of the decision. 

Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Netanyahu's latest move is not sufficient to enable a return of the PA to the negotiating table. Similarly, a top Abu Mazen aide said that the new Israeli position "is neither serious nor convincing."