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February 2, 2015

Israel OKs New Settlement Construction as Obama-Netanyahu Tensions Peak 
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The Israeli government has announced a new round of settlement
construction in the occupied West Bank, approving 450 homes in several
Palestinian areas. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest
criticized the move.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: "Our position is that we
believe that settlements are illegitimate and counterproductive to
achieving a two-state outcome. We have deep concerns about these highly
contentious settlement construction announcements. They will have
detrimental impacts on the ground, inflame already heightened tensions
with the Palestinians and further isolate the Israelis internationally."

The new settlement building comes amid reports that ties between Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama are at their
lowest point. White House officials have criticized Netanyahu for a
planned trip to the United States next month to address a joint session
of Congress on Iran. Netanyahu has backed new sanctions on Iran, despite
Obama's vow to veto them as he pursues a nuclear deal with Tehran. An
unnamed administration official told the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz:
"There are things you simply don't do. [Netanyahu] spat in our face
publicly and that's no way to behave. Netanyahu ought to remember that
President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that
there will be a price." According to The New York Times, a senior
administration said the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Ron
Dermer, "had repeatedly placed Netanyahu's political fortunes above the
relationship between Israel and the United States."

 

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