Israel election: Netanyahu 'will not dismantle settlements'

[Gerald]

Israel's prime minister has said no Jewish settlements in the West Bank will be removed during his next term in office if he wins elections on Tuesday.

Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel's Maariv newspaper: "The days when bulldozers uprooted Jews are behind us, not in front of us."

The future of Jewish settlements has been a key stumbling block in peace talks with the Palestinians.

Polls predict Mr Netanyahu will comfortably win next week's polls.

About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since Israel occupied the area in 1967. The international community considers the settlements illegal, though Israel disputes this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21075558

He'll probably win,next week's polls.


Note: 18 January 2013 Last updated at 10:43 GMT