Israeli Settlement Plan 'Unhelpful,' US Says

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Israel's new settlements plan was not helpful to the peace process, a US official said Monday, before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks here with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

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"Now, the announcement that we saw from the Israeli government, is it helpful to the process? No, it's not helpful to the process," McCormack told reporters.

"But what we need to keep focused on, it's essential that we keep focused on, is moving forward the political process as well as moving forward that road map implementation process," he said.

The road map calls for creating a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.

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Israel announced at the weekend plans to build hundreds of new housing units in a settlement in the occupied West Bank.

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http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDMM9m4OYkEbP7eEX8gw2gml53Qw

[Scurrilous]

1. UN chief: Israel should halt settlement expansion

Israeli decision to build hundreds of new homes in Jewish settlement in West Bank draws global criticism. Ban Ki-moon urges government to drop plan, reiterates that 'fulfillment of Road Map obligations by both parties is an important measure underpinning the political process between them'. US says move does not help peace talks

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517478,00.html

<snip>

"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged Israel to halt plans to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Ban's spokeswoman said.

"The secretary-general calls on the government of Israel to halt settlement expansion and reiterates that the fulfillment of Road Map obligations by both parties is an important measure underpinning the political process between them," Ban's spokeswoman, Michel Montas, said in a statement.

The expansion, which the Palestinians denounced as another blow to US-brokered peace talks, was announced on Sunday, just three days after an Israeli Arab terrorist killed eight students at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem that was associated with the settler movement.

"Any settlement expansion is contrary to Israel's obligations under the road map and to international law," Montas said."

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. And Hurricane Katrina was a rain shower, the Iraq was a success, and global warming is...nt

[Crunchy Frog]

3. I guess it'd be kinda nifty if they'd stop it. n/t

[subsuelo]

4. And the Understatement of the Year Award goes to ....