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Subscribe to RSSIsrael approves plans to build more than 3,000 homes in East Jerusalem. ITN's John Ray reports from Tel Aviv.
The White House and the State Department said on Friday a new Israeli settlement expansion plan was "counterproductive" and could make it harder to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.
"We reiterate our longstanding opposition to settlements and East Jerusalem construction and announcements," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland reiterated this position, adding: "We're going to be evenhanded in our concern about any actions that are provocative, any actions that make it harder to get these two parties back to the table."
Israel plans to build thousands of new homes for its settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, an Israeli official said earlier, defying a U.N. vote that implicitly recognized Palestinian statehood there.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative government had authorized the construction of 3,000 housing units and ordered "preliminary zoning and planning work for thousands" more.
Marko Djurica / Reuters
A masked Palestinian protester uses a sling to throw a stone at Israeli security officers (unseen) during clashes at a protest against Jewish settlements, in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah on Nov. 30.
"We believe these actions are counterproductive and make it harder to resume direct negotiations or achieve of a two state solution," Vietor said. "Direct negotiations remain our goal and we encourage all parties to take steps to make that easier to achieve."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is meeting senior Israeli and Palestinian officials Friday to try to plot a path forward.
Clinton is seeing Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. She is also talking to Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, a key mediator.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says only "face-to-face" Israeli-Palestinian negotiations can lead to progress on a two-state solution.
Israeli media, including Haaretz newspaper, said the government sought to emphasize its rejection of Thursday's upgrade by the U.N. General Assembly of the Palestinians to "non-member observer state" from "entity."
Palestinians had a major symbolic victory when the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to recognize them, but the U.S. argued the new status could set back Palestinians in the path to peace. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Israel and the United States had opposed the resolution, which shored up the Palestinians' claim on all of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, saying territorial sovereignty should be addressed in direct peace talks with the Jewish state.
Those negotiations have been stalled for two years, however, given Palestinian anger at continued Israeli settlement expansion. The Israelis insist they would keep West Bank settlement blocs under any final accord as well as all of Jerusalem as their capital.
That status for the holy city has never been accepted abroad, where most powers consider the settlements illegal for taking in land captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
The 193-nation General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the world body to issue what he said was its long overdue "birth certificate."
The State Department called Thursday's vote "unfortunate" and "counterproductive," and said it doesn't take the Palestinians any closer to a state.
Spokesman Earnest rejected talk of cutting U.S. aid to the Palestinians.
Jim Hollander / EPA file
A bulldozer sits at a construction site in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Pizgat Ze'ev, which many consider a sprawling Jewish settlement, on Nov. 8. Israel plans to build 3,000 new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Ethnic Cleansing pure and simple. When the Serbs attempted this same process, NATO attacked. When its the Jewish State of Israel, its a meek, "we not happy with this latest decision to expand settlements." And where is the media to attack this vile racism, aparthied and ethnic cleansing? Oh yea, I forgot whom controls and media....and for those whom raise their voice in opposition, its hammer time with the holocaust blungeon. Israel doesn't want peace...they plan to build and cleanse the West Bank clear of non jews.
Mongo is pure dung in toilet of life.
big surprise...give these SOBs and inch and they will take a mile...when will the US stop supporting this earth's scourge?
if one criticizes Israel, immediately they are anti Semitic... oh, and let's not forget the hue and cry about the holocaust
What ..? Obama is upset..?
Does this mean His Yearly pilgrimage to Mecca ...will be cancelled..?
Palestinians, instead of sitting at the negotiating table, went to the UN and got their status but no land. Now with the Israeli action they will get even less land. Palestinians have not learned from the past, that they will lose more land with war. Time to sit down for direct peace talks.
Sheiss - They "peace talked" all way thru the 1980s and 1990s, all the while the zionists were eating their breakfast, lunch & dinner. Been there, done that, done yacking ... International Criminal Court and trade sanctions against the illegitimate zionist state.
Yes in 1979 they had peace with Egypt after peace talks. in the 80's they had peace with Jordan after peace talks. in 90s arafat, and then abbas where offered almosy 100% of the currect west bank. They turned it down. "Been there, done tha" has worked for some, not the palestinians and I wonder why.t
Gaining a symbolic upgrade in status at the UN seems about as diplomatic and un-war-like as one can get.
Does "implacable" refer to the plaque build up from Jihadi sheiss?
Abbas is just playing for PR. He cant even lead the whole of palestine let alone take out Israel. He's basically lawyering-up for an ICC complaint.
Reality, Israel cannot exist without American money, guns and implied back up when they get attacked. When did they become our 51st state?...
They aren't. South Korea is 51. Israel is 52.
if americans only knew just how much of their tax dollars has been pumped into that rat hole. israel has been deemed a strategic element in the ME mainly due to the US need for ME oil...but as the ME oil becomes less important, so will israel...that day can't come soon enough...
Nazis and Jihadis, in the prison washroom, find love...
Of all the countries in the ME, I still pick the only one that has elections.
Just reinforces what most of the world has known since 1967 : Israel is a cancer and must be treated as such. We need a one state solution called Palestine.
Did Tom Metzger ride you around the barn?
why allow the tail to wag the dog? Our foreign policy should be dictated by what is in the best interests of the us and not israel. All nations(including palestine and israel) deserve the right of self preservation. But first we need statehood and a two nation solution. Taking land that is being negoitated and settling it removes the possibility of reaching an agreement.
You've got it exactly right.
Arab/Muslim skum took British and American oil. Ever think about that, you hillbillies?
"Direct negotiations remain our goal and we encourage all parties to take steps to make that easier to achieve."
The last i knew the United States did not negotiate with terrorists. Israel has on many occasions made concessions for peace and what do they get in return? missiles launched into their country, suicide bombers and innocent civilians killed. I am all for a Palestinian state but until they separate themselves from Hamas, Hezbollah and the other terrorist organizations it will never happen.
wow, never thought i would say this but it appears obama is siding with terrorist on this west bank thing.
Are you kidding me? Obama was raised in a muslim country. Does anyone really believe he has Israel's back? That is all more political hype. If Israel is attacked all he will do is to run to the UN, which will do nothing.
sirhan sirhan
You've wasted your life.
I will never understand why my country is supporting this genocidal, disrespectful, bullying, arrogant country of Israel.
I will never understand why we give so much money every year. So much of our best weapory and technology. So much support in the media.
And what do we get? A proverbial gigantic middle finger to us and the rest of the world.
I guess Israel needs more living space for its elite Jewish citizens. Hey anyone know what the German word for "living space" is BTW?
Also for the all white knight Israeli suporters on here, try going and living in the West Bank or Gaza. I wonder what YOU would have done in their shoes? Write strongly worded letters to an inneffective UN where the US always vetoes every resolution or appeal you ever file? I'm here right now, I despise terrorists, but I'm here to tell you I WOULD FIGHT. I would grab the nearest rifle or bazooka and FIGHT BACK. Who else is going to look out for me?
The UN?
The US?
Anyone supporting Israel should be ASHAMED. In my mind you are a notch below the terrorists we hate so much. The only difference is your arrogance subsitituting for an actual, legitimate, fair excuse.
Enjoy our tax dollars at work, proud Patriotitc fellow Americans.
Gosh...Israel doesn't Like Puppies and little Kittens as well...?
You are a pure Terrorist B.Ul.L Shytte..Supporter..Delusional LIB
GOD Sicktired..
Tell us what you really think..Dont hide it...Search your inner self and just let it out..
And the truth will set you free !!!
If you're looking at this from a US-only point-of-view, then remember which side:
1. hijacked our planes in the '70s
2. kidnapped our citizens in the '80s
3. cheered scuds in the '90s
4. danced in the streets on 9/11//11.
5. has a president (abbas) and legislature (hamas) that both have overstayed the terms-of-office from their only election-- one man, one vote, one time.
Mr. president i agree with your thoughts on the expansion of settlements in israel and a question for you please . is there any difference in israel's defending them selves from hamas and the syrian president/king defending his country from the taliban? i believe it is not to easy to see any difference at all but we back israel and support the "rebels"/ taliban in syria kinda wonder what the foriegn policy here is????
Please ..This Christmas Season..as you sit in the comfort of your homes..
Won't you Please Help the Poor Palestinian Children..with your generous gifts..?
Think of the Joy you will put on their little Jihaddist Faces,...when they wake one morning..
...and find their very own A-K -47 assault Rifle,,,Think of the smiles...
Send your generous gifts to..
"A-K-'s for TOTS" c/o B.Obama and Eric Holder's " Little Red Jihaddist School for Pyrotechnics "
at ...Jump-around-Place..Gaza Strip...somewhere.....Over the Rainbow.....You'll be Glad...you Did
You missed your meds this morning ?
As soon as the overwhelming UN vote was made, this diarreah flowed out of Bibi's big mouth. Does the JEWISH State of Israel really want peace and the successful establishment of an independent Palestinian State? Obviously NOT.
Let Us Toast the Palestinians...Toast Them...
If Israel wasnt so restrained, that's exactly what would happen. They've kicked butt against every arab invasion and the military gap is way bigger now than it ever was. The palestinians should feel lucky Bibi's only building houses in annoying places.
The 193-nation General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the world body to issue what he said was its long overdue "birth certificate."
How can Palestinians claim it is their land when they admit in above quote that they haven't been born yet?
Is there an historical precedent for telling a country that they can't use land that they won in a war that they did not start 45 years ago?
Has anyone read the Bible lately? God promised that land to the descendents of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; not Ishmael.
Bible doesnt even matter. In war, you keep what you conquer for as long as you can defend it. No debating club is going to change reality.
Israel is not throwing out the palestinians on the west bank. At least not yet. But Muslim expulsion is going on right now in Myanmar. Any outrage there or that is ok because ..... they are not jews doing that atrocity?
There is outrage about that, and furthermore US blood & treasure are not being used to further the Muslim expulsion in Myanmar, unlike in Palestine.
YEP, Lets turn our back on Israel, the only true friend we have in the region and suck up to those towel headed, American flag burning F U C K H E A D S..That makes alot of sence..All that coddeling and A$$ kissing by the White House really paid BIG dividends in Benghazie..If we give to the Muslim brotherhood what aid we're now giving to Israel, the next time they attack an embassy or consulate, they might kill just three Americans instead of four..The president could have stopped palenstine from even getting the status they were awarded if they wanted to..All they had to do was tell them the same thing they did back in the 80's..If you seek this action ALL aid from the US WILL be cut off..That would have ended this for another 20 years..but no..Lets all suck the towel heads D I C K S...the world is a better place for that action..Just look at all the peace in the middle east..
I'll bet anybody anything they want that within TWO years, we'll be in a fresh NEW war in the middle East..Any takers?
I wonder how they will blame it on Bush?
Benghazi was the result of a disgusting internet video which originated during the Bush administration. Susan Rice told me so and she can't be wrong.
try to understand this very simple statement: israel is NOBODY'S friend...they are the terrorists who stole the land and livelihood of the Palestinians...you had better get your hands on some uncensored ME modern history...Began, Dyan, et. al were the true terrorists...israel does not want peace, they just want more territory...and they want everyone to support them and if need be, to spill their blood for the israelis...let these unholy provocateurs just go to hell...
Don't BS me with your propaganda. I watched the 67 and 73 wars. No one stole squat from the Palestinians. If the arabs feel so damn bad for the poor Palestinians give them the Sinai or part of Jordan or Syria. Quite frankly, I wish Israel had kept Gaza.
Ther you go Jatty..I've said that ALL along..that will shut their pie hole...
The arab countries wont even give them citizenship. Palestinians are more valuable as a designated victim group. Just cheap dead bodies for the news whores.
The Israelis have been gleefully kicking the Palestinians for a while, and they really don't like us either. Their heavy-handed Gaza policy is shameful and their propensity for illegal settlements criminal.
USA SLAMS ISRAEL for Expansion plans?? LMAO, didn't USA and my own @!$%#bird Canada Conservative Government vote NAY for Palest. Statehood a few days ago?
So the American posturing of "SLAMMING" is ridiculous at most. They knew what NetanYAHOO would counter with. Same old, same old. Utter B.S.
Everyone painted with the same brush. A bunch of hypocritical SH.I.T.B.Y.R.D.S.
Enjoy the wknd.
ISLAM from PALESTINIANS
Terrorism
Sexism
Feudalism
Despotism
Fascism
Hey Sharia..where ya' been so long..?
And Mama's spoiled brat strikes again showing his silly stubbornness
The state of Israel has a present Mandate from the U.N. to stop settlements, which of course they always ignored. Like they have done with all other U.N. Mandates.
And what is the U.N to Israel? Israel's creator.
Here's a long list of violations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Nations_resolutions_concerning_Israel
Now, for those who in these threads are happy and celebrating this "success" of Israel by showing its almighty power, here's the question.
We all rely on the U.N. in our present world. We do at the beginning of a war, when imposing sanctions, for world catastrophes and natural events and a myriad of different things. More importantly, we USE the U.N. Mandates to (when not met) overthrow governments (like that of Saddam Hussein). The United states is supposed to respect U.N. decisions for our own convenience and purposes. We don't treat its Mandates lightly.
By building thousands of additional Israeli settlements at the West Bank, Israel is just provoking attempts of damaging its own people with suicide bombers etc on reprisal. Then, in their imaginary world, they'll have an excuse in front of the world for additional bombings and killings. Actually about the only objection the Palestinians of the West Bank had for peaceful negotiations, have been the settlements. And these, of course, Israel never stopped.
U.N..A Commie Circus of Emasculated Spin..
Our New OBAMIAN World Order
The UN should be the first thing we cut from our budget!
So Lilirocks..
Are you seriously going to sit there and tell me that you think that israel should give back the land that they captured and then give HALF their capital to the towel headed bastards as well??..Do you THEN think that would be enough?? Would it bring PEACE??..When the palestinians got half of Jerusalem then they would want the OTHER half..It would NEVER stop..I've got a solution that would work..If Jordan and Syria and Iran and Iraq, all want the palestinians to have their very own state, then carve them a great big ole piece of their countries up and give it to them..That idea would shut their pie hole really fast....They just so happen to want that little piece of land that ISRAEL has..
I'll agree with you on that Jo Mama
And Lilirocks, if you're so for obeying the UN resolutions then READ Joy Rasch 3495911,s post below..I Actually learned something today...Thank you joy
I agree with you lilirocks.
For those of you claiming to know History, I would suggest to look at the map of Israel when the state was created by the U.N.
The net is a wonderful modern tool.
@Blade-865322
About right and wrong first of all??
I've seen my brother, who now is fighting in Afghanistan, take my side to defend me even when I knew I was wrong. But he always told me when I wasn't right. This, I always admired and led me to rely on his opinion for any decision.
I grew up as a Catholic from a religious family. At adulthood, I stopped going to church and I did stop believing. At this point some might say I'm an atheist -and in a way I am- because I don't believe in Religion. Personally I consider myself a Christian because I strongly believe in the teachings of Christ- not in his divinity or "savior" status.
Even when I don't agree with church involved in political life imposing personal restrictions, I admire some communities like the Amish, who decided to live peaceful by their own rules. I believe in letting people live their lives according to their own beliefs, as long as they don't personally damage anyone else or interfere with the belief of others. I think we should not only tolerate but encourage freedom of expression and belief, as long as it is harmless and tolerant of other's.
I know many Muslims who are real good friends and neighbors and I know they are very kind and sweet and they're definitely against violence from anyone, from any religion, or anyone getting hurt.
In 1947, the UN mandate gave the entire land of Israel, including the entire "West Bank" to Israel. Since then, it's belonged to Israel. The UN should remember that. In 1948, when Jordan tried to destroy all of Israel, they were stopped in the West Bank. Israel was too militarily weak to take it back. So for 20 years, Jordan flooded the West Bank with Arabs until 1967, when they tried to use the West Bank as a jumping off point to try to destroy all of Israel again. But by then, Israel was strong enough to take their original 1947 mandated land back. Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph, and wives Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel are all buried in the West Bank, in sacred graves which Palestinians have desecrated. The Israelis would be fools to give all that up again.
@Joy Rasch-3495911
And my house is one of three floors. Gold on the outside and silver on the inside, lined with pearls and diamonds. It sits on a cloud and the only way to its entrance is to follow the rainbow until it ends.
wow JJ...
You must be the by product of the last three years of Obamagods rule..The flow of milk and honey that he has promised has definitely blessed your house..Now if only he can walk on water, we'll be set..
This clearly proves a point:
The sooner palestinians sit down at the direct negotiating table, the sooner the settlements will stop, and the more land they get.
Knowing how palestinians never learn from history, it will not happen.
Typical Ignorance. Every country on this planet has dirty laundry. Not one country is innocent. I am a proud american citizen of lebanese and Iraqi descent. Yes, there are/were terrorists in Palestine. But answer this for me, what makes the people who are celebrating the announcement of state hood in Palestine any different than the colonists who declared their independence in Philadelphia on July 4th? The British told the colonists, do not do this or face heavy financial and military sanctions. The Colonists did it anyway. WHAT makes them ANY different? This is democracy at work. Either embrace it or you, my friend, are wrong. You, my educated friend, are the hypocrit.
1) I don't think the colonists intentionally killed women and children to advance their objectives. 2) Israel is not occupying Gaza as the British were occupying the colonies.
The white house can go pound sand. Israel can do what it wants in its own country.
As long as we are its sugar daddy...they do what we say ! At least until the AIPAC tells us otherwise.
That's like a child intentionally sneezing on a plate of food so he wouldn't have to share it with his brother. Assuming of course that his brother is not starving. If so, it's going to get messy.