On 25 November 2009, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, imposed a 10-month construction freeze on all of its settlements in the West Bank. Calling it "a painful step that will encourage the peace process" and urged the Palestinians to respond.[23] Israel's decision was widely seen as due to pressure from the Obama administration, which urged the sides to seize the opportunity to resume talks.[24] The Palestinian Authority rejected the gesture as being insignificant due to the limited construction on some pre-approved housing units, failure to extend the freeze to East Jerusalem, and failure to dismantle already-built settlement outposts illegal under Israeli law.[25] The Palestinians refused to enter negotiations, despite Israeli appeals to do so.[26]