U.S. condemns new Israeli plan on settlements: State Department

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS | Wed Oct 5, 2016 | 12:20pm EDT

U.S. condemns new Israeli plan on settlements: State Department

The United States strongly condemned the Israeli government's decision to advance a plan that would create up to 300 new settlement units deep in the West Bank, the State Department said on Wednesday, saying it would damage prospects for a two-state solution.

"It is deeply troubling, in the wake of Israel and the U.S. concluding an unprecedented agreement on military assistance designed to further strengthen Israel's security, that Israel would take a decision so contrary to its long term security interest in a peaceful resolution of its conflict with the Palestinians," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Alexander)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-usa-idUSKCN1251XZ

[Nitram]

1. Another land grab.

[Israeli]

2. U.S. Blasts Israel's Plan for New West Bank Settlement, Says Netanyahu Broke His Word

In unusually harsh statement, State Department ties timing of construction plans to signing of aid deal. U.S. official says White House was livid over timing of approval of plans, which seek to resettle residents of Amona.

Barak Ravid Oct 05, 2016

The U.S. administration published an unusually harsh statement on Wednesday against a plan to build an alternative settlement for residents of the illegal outpost of Amona.

The statement, signed by Mark Toner, deputy spokesman for the State Department, drew an unusual linkage between the signing of the defense aid agreement with Israel and criticism of settlement building.

Toner stressed that the U.S. views advancement of the plan as a violation of a commitment by Netanyahu's government not to establish any new settlements in the West Bank.

The White House later further escalated the criticism, as Josh Ernest said that the decision constitutes a violation of a commitment undertaken by the Israeli government to the U.S. administration, adding that this isn't how friends behave.

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.745959
 

[Little Tich]

3. This condemnation is less feeble than usual. n/t

[Israeli]

4. Fulfilling vision of Peres requires dismantling settlements

Summary

Former Israeli President Shimon Peres' Middle East peace legacy can only be realized if the settlements he himself approved many years ago are dismantled.

Author Akiva Eldar
Posted September 28, 2016
Translator Ruti Sinai

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/09/israel-ongoing-occupation-destroys-peres-vision.html#ixzz4MIg2Bsyg

[Little Tich]

5. Very, very true. n/t

[Israeli]

6. True or not ....

.............the reality is that it is never going to happen Little Tich.