(Ha'aretz) The U.S. said on Monday that Israel's approval of 112 new homes in Beitar Illit, adjacent to the "green line" in the West Bank, did not violate a limited Israeli settlement freeze. "On the one hand, it does not violate the moratorium that the Israelis previously announced. On the other hand, this is the kind of thing that both sides have to be cautious about as we move ahead with these parallel talks," said U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley. Under heavy U.S. pressure, Israel agreed in November to restrict building in the West Bank. The government said at the time that exceptions could be allowed.
2010-03-09 08:31:55Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive