US: Israel’s construction of 900 settlements in East Jerusalem is ‘a disappointing development’

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/americas/18495-us-israels-construction-of-900-settlements-in-east-jerusalem-is-a-disappointing-development

US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said that the Jerusalem District Planning Committee's approval of the construction of 900 settlement units in East Jerusalem is "a disappointing development".

Speaking in a press briefing yesterday, Rathke said: "We have continued to reiterate that we are strongly opposed to the steps by the Israeli authorities to advance construction in East Jerusalem. This is a disappointing development, and we're concerned about it."

The American official stressed that the Israeli officials are claiming that they are committed to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on a two-state solution, adding that we "need to see that commitment in the actions of the Israeli government. Moving forward with construction of housing units in east Jerusalem is damaging and inconsistent with that commitment."

He added: "We continue to engage with the highest levels of the Israeli government, and we continue to make our position clear that we view this as illegitimate."

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I think this is proof positive that Israeli leaders have simply been stringing the US along

on the supposed 'peace process', and that they have and have had no intent than to do otherwise, and that their policy all along has simply been to keep stalling and stealing ever more land away from the occupied Palestinians, with an end goal of a tiny prison population crowded into the smallest possible area, all of their arable land and resources expropriated for Israeli use.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. The USA and its politicians are willful

in being led around like fools.

It'll change with Israel being out in the cold, and it already is starting.

BDS.

[BillZBubb]

3. The US knows exactly what is going on. We are co-conspirators in the land grab.

Empty, no consequence statements like this are just a way to keep US citizens opposed to these ongoing crimes mollified.

If US officials actually cared, there would be stiff consequences for these Israeli actions.

[Viva_Daddy]

4. Given Israel's history, this should not have been unexpected.