Rice: West Bank settlements impede peace process
Washington, 26 August (IranVNC)—During her trip to the Middle East today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that Israel put an end to its settlement construction in the West Bank, saying it undermines they peace negotiations with the Palestinian authorities, reports Haaretz.
By: IranVNC
Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
10:20GMT—6:20AM/EST
ISRAEL – PALESTINIANS – PEACE – RICE
Washington, 26 August (IranVNC)—During her trip to the Middle East today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that Israel put an end to its settlement construction in the West Bank, saying it undermines they peace negotiations with the Palestinian authorities, reports Haaretz.
“I think it is no secret, and I have said it to my Israeli counterparts, that I don’t think that settlement activity is helpful,” said Rice during a joint press conference today with Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni in Tel Aviv.
Rice added: “In fact, what we need now are steps that enhance confidence between the parties and anything that undermines confidence between the parties ought to be avoided,” reports Y Net News.
Rice is in the region with hopes of advancing the peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, and met Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert along with Livni this morning.
Livni said she does not think it is Israeli policy to increase the settlements. She denied the claims that the settlement construction projects were doing any harm to the peace process, and confirmed Israel’s seriousness in the ongoing negotiations.
“You can’t allow noise [to] affect the diplomatic proceedings,” she said. “We are involved in serious, continuous negotiations all the time. There are disparities, but we are not where we were a year ago.”
Throughout her short visit, Rice has reiterated that he U.S. remains steadfast in its goal to reach a peace deal by the end of this year. Prime Minister Olmert’s office released a statement today committing Israel to the US deadline for peace.
Sources: Y Net News, Haaretz
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