| RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Palestinian construction workers say the freeze on new building in Israeli settlements in the West Bank means lower pay and less work. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS Walid Mustafa, a father of seven who lives in the Jalazon Refugee Camp, told The Christian Science Monitor he has been working about a day a month. "Work in the settlements has decreased dramatically in the last few months -- it's nothing like it was before", Mustafa said. "But our lives haven't changed for the better and the leaders aren't any closer to peace, so what's the point? The settlement freeze is temporary anyway. The Israeli government is made up of settlers, and they will build again soon enough." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insisted on a freeze on building in the settlements as a pre-condition for peace talks. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed, although he said construction that was already under way would continue and that there would be no freeze in Jerusalem. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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