Friday, June 5, 2009

Clinton rejects Israeli settlement expansion claims

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rejected yesterday Israeli claims that the Bush administration had secretly approved Jewish settlement expansion on the West Bank.

"We have the negotiating record, that is the official record, that was turned over to the Obama administration by the outgoing Bush administration," Clinton told reporters in Washington. "There is no memorialization of any informal and oral agreements."

President Barack Obama has stood firm in his call for Israel to stop expanding settlements, including that caused by population growth, stating that it violates commitments made by Israel in the 2003 "road map" peace plan.

Clinton said any agreements reached with Israel during the Bush administration did not become part of official U.S. policy. "And there are contrary documents that suggest that they were not to be viewed as in any way contradicting the obligations that Israel undertook pursuant to the road map. And those obligations are very clear."


Clinton Rejects Israeli Claims of an Understanding on Settlements

Washington Post - ‎24 minutes ago‎
By Glenn Kessler Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton forcefully rejected yesterday Israeli claims that the Bush administration had secretly agreed to expanding Jewish settlements on the West Bank, deepening the impasse between the two countries.

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