JERUSALEM — Israel will halt construction in its West Bank settlements for 10 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today, in an effort to restart peace talks, but Palestinians rejected the freeze as insufficient because it did not include East Jerusalem.

Shortly before Netanyahu's televised statement, his Security Cabinet approved the freeze. Officials in his office said the vote in the gathering of senior ministers and top security officials was 11-1 in favor.

Netanyahu said the "far-reaching and painful step" was designed to "encourage resumption of peace talks with our Palestinian neighbors."

In Washington, the administration of President Barack Obama welcomed the Israeli decision.

George Mitchell, the special U.S. envoy for Mideast peace, said the moratorium fell short of a full settlement freeze, but he praised the move as a positive development and a significant step that could move Israel and the Palestinians toward a resumption of peace talks.

Palestinians already rejected the move before the announcement because the freeze does not include construction in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as their capital.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded a total halt to settlement construction before peace talks can resume.