US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday Israel’s continued settlement building was having a negative effect on its peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
At a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — who called settlements “the highest hurdle” to a deal with Israel — Rice said she believed a statehood accord was still possible this year, but would require stepped up efforts.
Israel said on Saturday it planned to build 1,300 new homes in the occupied West Bank in an area it considers part of Jerusalem. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the move part of “a systematic policy to destroy” the peace process.
Pointing to Israel’s settlement policy, Rice said: “I do believe and the United States believes that the actions and the announcements that are taking place are indeed having a negative effect on the atmosphere for the negotiation — and that is not what we want.”
She said construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank would not determine the future borders of a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, Abbas’ former Gaza security boss said he supports reconciliation with the territory’s Hamas rulers.
But one year after the Islamic group wrested control of Gaza from Abbas loyalists he sees little hope that such efforts will bear fruit.
Deposed Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan said he saw no indication that Hamas was willing to give up its hold on Gaza. But he said Abbas’ Western-backed government must make visible efforts to heal the schism between the rivals.
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