Posted on 10/27/2014 3:12:16 PM PDT by Dave346
WASHINGTON — Israel’s continued building across the Green Line is “incompatible with their stated desire to live in a peaceful society,” State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday, in response to reports that Israel would continue to advance building plans in controversial Jerusalem neighborhoods.
Psaki said that while the US had yet to hear an “official announcement” that plans to build in East Jerusalem would go forward, the US is “certainly deeply concerned” by the reports.
Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the topic more broadly during a phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, Psaki said, and added that the embassy was currently “engaging at the highest levels… to get more information” regarding Israeli plans in the city.
“We view settlement activities as illegitimate and we are unequivocally opposed to unilateral steps,” Psaki emphasized. Although she was not directly asked about the state of the relationship between Jerusalem and Washington, the State Department spokeswoman quickly added that “the defense relationships remain as strong as ever and the ties between us are unshakable” — an unusual phrasing for an often-formulaic statement of support.
Usually, such statements do not include the word “defense” as a qualifier, but speak to the larger relationship between the two states.
“There are times in which we disagree with the Israeli government,” Psaki added, drawing an apparent distinction between defense ties and political ties with governments and their policies.
Psaki drew a connection between Israel’s building in settlements and continued terror activities targeting Israeli civilians, including the vehicular attack that killed two people last Wednesday in Jerusalem. “The key challenge is, if Israel wants to live in a peaceful society, they need to take steps to reduce tensions,” Psaki admonished.
Netanyahu, at Monday’s opening of the Knesset winter session, defended Israel’s right to build in Jerusalem.
“There is wide agreement among the public that Israel has the full right to build the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem,” the prime minister said. “Every Israeli government in the last 50 years did that, and it is also clear to the Palestinians that those places will stay under Israeli control in any mutual agreement.
“The French build in Paris, the English build in London, the Israelis build in Jerusalem. Should we tell Jews not to live in Jerusalem because it will stir things up?” Netanyahu continued.
The prime minister spoke soon after sources told The Times of Israel that Netanyahu has recommended plans be advanced for about 1,000 housing units in East Jerusalem. The plans call for roughly 400 units in Har Homa, in the city’s southeast, and 660 homes in Ramat Shlomo, in the northeast corner of the capital, according to the sources in the Prime Minister’s Office. Netanyahu will also push new infrastructure projects in the West Bank, including roads that will also serve the Palestinian population, a PMO source said.
Israel’s Channel 2 news reported Sunday night that Netanyahu is also in negotiations with right-wing lawmakers and settler officials over approval for a large West Bank development project, including 2,000 new units, 12 new roads, parks, student villages, and renovation of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
Any day Kerry is unhappy, is a good day : )
Let me guess: Obama is “seething”.
Hope so.
Obama and his State Department is not us, or “US.” It’s THEM.
Bibi, don’t listen to THEM. WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America love you and want you to live in all of your God-given land of Israel.
WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America know you are not the aggressors and that you are surrounded on every side by those who hate you and want to destroy you. But God is with you and we are with you.
WE (”US)”) are unequivocally opposed to this unconstitutional and unjust Obama regime which does not represent we the people.
I think Israel can do as it Damn well pleases and he should tell the red diaper doper babies in state to shove it. It’s Thor land and the goat ph%#ers can deal. They lost the land. Maybe Israel could reply the moment the US stops building on those lands it won during the Mexican American war we can begging to have a conversation :-)
Netanyahu has valley girl Jen Psaki on ignore and same for John f’n.... These two blundering tools will just have to be out waited ‘til the end of the Obama regime in two years
Israel builds housing for Israelis in Israel. Ooooooooooh! How terrible! How dare they?????
Agreed. The good news is “deeply concerned” translates into “we’re not going to do a thing about it.”
Agreed. The good news is “deeply concerned” translates into “we’re not going to do a thing about it.”
the fact, the unarguable fact, is that they can’t do anything about it
the hero of benghazi should draw a red line
Yes, good point.
The less he does the better off everybody is. Wish he’d go golfing for the next two years. I’ll pay him (I am anyway, right?) We’d all be better off.
Keep Kerry PO’d!!! Attaboy Bibi!!
Jen Psaki and Marie Harf: the Laverne and Shirley of the Obama administration.
If there ever is a revolution I’m all for “no quarters” for people like Jen.
More nazi style meddling That is so da””ed tiresome. Can’t the nazis ever be cleaned out of. “ our” government. ?! They seem to have taken up permanent residence and control there. Very very very very embarrassing to America to have this kind of irrelevant nazi filth press statement re- released almost every d”””ed day by “ our” govt. Yuck!!!!! Please pray for America !
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