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Obama and a Settlement Freeze

[Middle East Forum] Steven J. Rosen - Israel understands that, since the 2004 Bush letter, settlements in the blocs that would remain part of sovereign Israel will be treated differently by the U.S. than settlements outside the blocs, even before a future agreement is reached. The government of Israel believes it has a commitment from the U.S. to accept that a "freeze" need not apply to settlements inside these blocs, provided that the construction remains within the territorial limits understood at Camp David in July 2000. Sharon's successor, Ehud Olmert, said in April 2008: "It was clear from day one to Abbas, Rice and Bush that construction would continue in population concentrations - the areas mentioned in Bush's 2004 letter. I say this again today: Beitar Illit will be built, Gush Etzion will be built; there will be construction in Pisgat Ze'ev and in the Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem. It's clear that these areas will remain under Israeli control in any future settlement."
2009-01-29 06:00:00
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