|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2894103,00.html
U.S. Balks at Recognizing West Bank Settlement Blocs
(Yediot Ahronot-Hebrew) Yitzhak Ben-Horin - U.S. officials say Israel is having difficulty gaining U.S. recognition of its settlement blocs in the West Bank, in return for its withdrawal from Gaza and 4-6 isolated settlements in northern Samaria, as talks continue in Washington between an Israeli team headed by Sharon's representative Dov Weisglass and U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. There is no assurance that the U.S. will agree to publicly support Israel on the settlement blocs or oppose a Palestinian right of return. Overall, the U.S. is not likely to grant Israel any political gains if Israel fails to withdraw from West Bank settlements as well as from Gaza. Sharon hopes to settle these issues in a meeting with President Bush now planned for mid-April.