Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Israel to Let Settlements Expand

PM rebuffs Obama, backing 'natural growth' in West Bank

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted May 24, 2009 7:17 PM CDT

(Newser) – Israel will let settlements grow in the occupied West Bank despite President Obama's call to freeze expansion, Haaretz reports. "We do not intend to build any new settlements," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, "but it wouldn't be fair to ban construction to meet the needs of natural growth." Less than a week ago, Obama asked Netanyahu to curb settlements as a prelude to peace talks with Palestine.

A Netanyahu spokesman said peace talks themselves will determine the settlements' future. "In the interim period, we have to allow normal life in those communities to continue," he said. But Netanyahu has so far refused to negotiate with Palestine on territorial matters. Addressing the settlement issue by targeting small outposts, Israel razed one near Ramallah last week, but residents quickly came back to rebuild.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, front right, attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, May 24, 2009.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, front right, attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, May 24, 2009.   (AP Photos/Gali Tibbon, Pool)
Israeli Jewish settlers salvage material from destroyed structures that were demolished Thursday by Israeli troops, near Ramallah, Friday, May 22, 2009.
Israeli Jewish settlers salvage material from destroyed structures that were demolished Thursday by Israeli troops, near Ramallah, Friday, May 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
Israeli Jewish settlers try to rebuild a structure demolished earlier by Israeli troops in the West Bank outpost of Maoz Esther, near Ramallah, Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Israeli Jewish settlers try to rebuild a structure demolished earlier by Israeli troops in the West Bank outpost of Maoz Esther, near Ramallah, Thursday, May 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
In this May 18, 2009 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks towards President Barack Obama in the White House in Washington.
In this May 18, 2009 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks towards President Barack Obama in the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Reader76693465
Jun 12, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
Agreed. All aid to our welfare child (Israel) must end until Israel shows a true desire for peace. Oppressing the Palestinian people and building never-ending settlements on Palestinian land is not promoting peace.
Reader76693465
Jun 12, 2009 6:55 AM CDT
Meet the needs of natural growth? They (Israelis) must be multiplying like rabbits!
OWLWOMANXXXX
May 26, 2009 12:15 PM CDT
again....Jehova is a fair God.....and lots of times fairness is not one sided ...If it has been said that the West Bank should not be settled...so be it....Didn't Isreal sign an agreement to this?...If the Right would stop thinking that the land belongs to the Jews...Peace negotiations could start up....Right now..I think that piece of desert belongs to no one

More Newser Stories

Quietly, Israel Backs Off New Settlements

Israel Starts New Settlement in Palestinian Area

In Murders' Wake, Israel OKs New Settlements

Construction Begins as Settlement Freeze Expires

Clock Ticking, US Scrambles to Save Mideast Talks


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne