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August 6, 2009

US Congressman: Iran is Threat, Not Israeli Settlements
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=25CB99C:A6F02AD83191E16005B0145C05CB61EE30EB2FA2E66CBB22&
 
Republican Eric Cantor says Iran is primary obstacle to Middle East
peace because it poses threat to Israel, US if it develops nuclear
weapons 
Congressman Eric Cantor (c), with delegation of Republican members of
Congress, during press conference in Jerusalem, 06 Aug 2009U.S.
Republican Congressman Eric Cantor says Washington should be focusing on
the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran instead of pressuring Israel over
Jewish settlements. Cantor is in Israel this week leading a delegation
of 25 Republican members of the U.S. Congress. He serves as the House
minority whip, and is the only Jewish Republican in Congress. Cantor
said Iran is the primary obstacle to Middle East peace because it poses
a threat to both Israel and the United States if it develops nuclear
weapons. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The
United States and Israel have been locked in a dispute about Israeli
settlements in the West Bank. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported
Thursday that the U.S. has asked Israel to commit to a one-year freeze
of West Bank settlements. The report says U.S. envoy George Mitchell
raised the proposal last week during talks with Israeli Prime Minster
Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that Israel's commitment would facilitate
Arab concessions in the peace process. Israel has said it must continue
settlement construction to allow for "natural growth." Democrats in
Congress are expected to travel to Israel next week.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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