Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 28, 2009

Israel Dismisses US Call to Stop Settlement Construction
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2479ACC:A6F02AD83191E16032687A1AA4DFE54BE55ED32ED25AB8F6&
 
Government spokesman says construction must be allowed to continue in
existing settlements to accommodate population growth 
Israel has dismissed the latest U.S. call that it freeze all settlement
construction in the West Bank. The construction site of Jewish
settlement of Maaleh Adumim in the West Bank, near Jerusalem, 28 May
2009Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel will abide by
its commitments to dismantle unauthorized outposts and not build new
settlements. But he said construction must be allowed to continue in
existing settlements to accommodate population growth. Regev was
responding to comments Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton that the United States wants Israel to stop expanding the
settlements, without exception. His remarks come ahead of a meeting
Thursday at the White House between U.S. President Barack Obama and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. At the meeting, Mr. Abbas is
expected to call for an end to Israel's settlement activity in the West
Bank. Aides to Mr. Abbas said he also will urge Mr. Obama to press
Israel to accept the creation of a Palestinian state, alongside Israel.
Mr. Abbas has said he will not resume peace talks with Israel until both
conditions are met. President Obama and other world leaders have voiced
support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not endorsed that
approach. Regarding Israeli settlement construction, Secretary Clinton
said Wednesday that Mr. Obama stressed to Mr. Netanyahu when he visited
Washington last week that the U.S. president wants settlement building
in the West Bank to stop. Next week, President Obama embarks on an
overseas tour that will begin with stops in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. U.S.
officials say Mr. Obama will give a speech from Cairo directed to the
global Muslim community on June 4. 


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