Hillary Clinton warns Israel on settler homes
After the USA took a diplomatic beating and voted against Palestinian limited recognition status in the UN (one of only 9 countries to veto) the Netanyahu far right govt in Israel continues to make it difficult for the USA’s diplomatic efforts in the region and acts in such a way as to limit support for Israel’s policies in regards to the Palestinian question.
30 November 2012 Last updated at 23:55 ET
Hillary Clinton warns Israel on settler homes
The US has criticised Israel’s decision to authorise the construction of 3,000 more housing units in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that “these activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace”.
The White House had earlier described the proposal as “counter-productive”.
The Israeli decision followed a UN General Assembly vote to upgrade the Palestinians’ status to non-member observer state.
Thursday’s UN motion was carried by 138 votes to nine with 41 abstentions.
Israel and the US voted against the proposal.
‘Political theatre’
Addressing a Washington audience that included Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Mrs Clinton said the vote “should give all of us pause. All sides need to consider carefully the path ahead”.The Palestinians had to be persuaded, she said, that negotiations with Israel were the only path to an independent state.
It was in Israel’s interest, she added, to make generous steps towards Palestinians in the West Bank as a bulwark for Israeli security, “whether or not there is a comprehensive agreement in the near future”.
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