U.S. against Israeli settlement halt as condition for talks

[azurnoir]

The U.S. ambassador to Israel reaffirmed on Tuesday Washington's opposition to a Palestinian call to halt Israeli settlement building before peace negotiations can resume.

Facing renewed urging from international mediators to return to negotiations and defuse a row over his bid for a full seat at the United Nations, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has repeated his demand for a settlement freeze first.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Tuesday that he was not about to offer one.

U.S. envoy Dan Shapiro said Washington had never favoured making a freeze a condition for negotiations: "We've never set that, in this administration or any other, as a precondition for talks," he told Israeli Army Radio, in response to a question on whether he favoured the Palestinian demand.

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE78Q24720110927

[kysrsoze]

1. So the U.S. Govt. are saying it's OK to go ahead with the illegal settlements?

and continuing to steal Palestinian land? Seriously, WTF?

Netanyahu continues to hold the freeze of building as a little carrot, but it never stops. And now, we're evidently OK with that.

Of course, the only true way for Palestinians to gain statehood is via negotiation with Israel, and not through the UN.:eyes:

[azurnoir]

2. The US tallks out both sides of its mouth

U.S. condemns Israeli plan for new construction beyond Green Line

The U.S. condemned Tuesday Israel's plan to build 1,100 new housing units in Jerusalem's contested Gilo neighborhood, which lies beyond the Green Line.

"These kinds of actions are counterproductive to the resumption of direct negotiations," a State Department official said.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-condemns-israeli-plan-for-new-construction-beyond-green-line-1.387055

It's the same ploy as last February when the US unilaterally veto'd a UNSC decision to place sanctions on Israel for continued settlement building while saying in the same statement no less that the US does not believe the settlements are legitimate

[saras]

3. Sure makes it clear what the US's goals are...

[Jefferson23]

4. OMG, how shocking.

:sarcasm:

[azurnoir]

5. I know I nearly fainted when I read the headline

:sarcasm: