The Israeli government will pay over 2.5 million shekels to settlers who incurred losses on construction plans during a 10-month settlement building freeze in the West Bank, Israeli media reported Monday.
Shortly after Israel announced the partial moratorium, it set up a complaints committee to deal with requests for compensation. According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the committee has reached a decision on 45 of 109 cases, rejecting three claims.
Private individuals or groups, including housing companies and contractors whose claims were accepted, will receive some 60,000 shekels ($16,492) each, the daily reported.
Israel's freeze on settlement construction expired last Sunday despite calls from President Mahmoud Abbas, the US and EU to extend it in a bid to keep Palestinian negotiators in the talks.

Freeze extension hinges on Lieberman

Haaretz also reported that a cabinet decision to extend the freeze hinges on the support of either Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman or Housing and Construction Minister Ariel Atias, both members of far-right parties in Israel's coalition government.
Officials from the Shas party, of which Atias is a member, told Haaretz that "there is no chance" the minister will ally himself with Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu but rather with Interior Minister Eli Yishai, a strong opponent to the moratorium.
US President Barack Obama has reportedly offered an incentive package in exchange for halting settlement construction as Palestinian leaders reiterate that talks are futile while illegal settlement building continues.