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March 24, 2010

Israel Approves New Settlements as Obama, Netanyahu Hold White House Meeting
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The Israeli government has approved yet another settlement expansion in
occupied East Jerusalem, just as President Obama hosted Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. On Tuesday, Israeli officials
said they’ve issued construction permits for building in the Palestinian
neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The Obama administration had asked Israel
to cancel the project when it was unveiled last year. The announcement
came hours before Netanyahu and Obama held their first meeting since
Israel declared it would build 1,600 new homes in an East Jerusalem
settlement earlier this month. In a rare move, news coverage was barred
of the White House meeting, and neither side made public statements.



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