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State Dept criticises Israel on new settlement construction
Washington, Oct 04: Israel`s plan to build 565 new homes in Jewish enclaves on the West Bank drew criticism and an implicit threat from the Bush administration.
Washington, Oct 04: Israel's plan to build 565 new homes in Jewish enclaves on the West Bank drew criticism and an implicit threat from the Bush administration.
Settlement activity is unhelpful to peacemaking with
the Palestinians, and the construction will be taken into
account as the Bush administration reviews its promises of
loan guarantees to Israel, the State Department spokesman
Richard Boucher said yesterday.
Secretary of State Colin Powell also criticised Israel on the Jewish state's announced intention to construct a security barrier extending into Palestinian territory.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Powell said Israel's proposal to leave large gaps in the barrier would not satisfy US concerns. He said US officials were having ``intense discussions'' on their response. The interview was being published in today's editions of the Post.
The new homes would be built deep inside the West Bank, which the Palestinians, with support from President George W. Bush, intend to take over for a state. The U.S. view is the more territory Israelis live in, the harder it will be to unscramble the area and establish lasting borders.
Even so, the Bush administration continued to give highest priority yesterday to the formation of a Palestinian government with the resources to "carry out action" against terrorists.
While public U.S. criticism of Israel was relatively mild, the State Department's frustration with the stalled peace effort was apparent.
New housing construction "is unhelpful in terms of the process of movement on peace as well as the achievement of the President's vision of two states living side by side", Boucher said.
Bureau Report
Secretary of State Colin Powell also criticised Israel on the Jewish state's announced intention to construct a security barrier extending into Palestinian territory.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Powell said Israel's proposal to leave large gaps in the barrier would not satisfy US concerns. He said US officials were having ``intense discussions'' on their response. The interview was being published in today's editions of the Post.
The new homes would be built deep inside the West Bank, which the Palestinians, with support from President George W. Bush, intend to take over for a state. The U.S. view is the more territory Israelis live in, the harder it will be to unscramble the area and establish lasting borders.
Even so, the Bush administration continued to give highest priority yesterday to the formation of a Palestinian government with the resources to "carry out action" against terrorists.
While public U.S. criticism of Israel was relatively mild, the State Department's frustration with the stalled peace effort was apparent.
New housing construction "is unhelpful in terms of the process of movement on peace as well as the achievement of the President's vision of two states living side by side", Boucher said.
Bureau Report