Page 9 - Settlement Construction News Today

>> but the prime ministers office is deeply disappointed, expressing outrage over this. what do you say to the prime ministers office and various israeli officials who are now saying that president obama, this white house does not have their back? >> well, jim, its just not backed up by the record. we just concluded a $38 billion for security assistance to israel. weve had unprecedented security cooperation with israel under this administration. but the fact of the matter is, for years we have e...

>> reporter: good evening. in a major u.s. policy reversal, the obama administration was going toç abstain from voting against a resolution critical of israel, breaking with the israel position on this for quite some time here. this is all according to reuters. usually the united states will protect israel from these types of votes. this particular resolution would have demanded israel halt settlement construction in east jerusalem and elsewhere. an associated press reporter tweeted john kerry...

Hold while the arab league meets this afternoon to review the text. there could be a new text, we dont know what that will say, but now its unclear how the u.s. is going to vote. but that vote on calling settlements illegal, calling on israelis to stop all settlement construction certainly on hold for the time being. >> its on hold, unclear as you pointed out how the u.s. would weigh in. is there a sense that moving forward, if in fact it does come up again, if it does come back on the table, wo...

>> reporter: good evening. in a major u.s. policy reversal, the obama administration was going toç abstain from voting against a resolution critical of israel, breaking with the israel position on this for quite some time here. this is all according to reuters. usually the united states will protect israel from these types of votes. this particular resolution would have demanded israel halt settlement construction in east jerusalem and elsewhere. an associated press reporter tweeted john kerry...

Through obama have publicly and strongly opposed israels policy with respect to settlement construction in the west bank. the criticism ranged from illegal to inappropriate to harmful to the peace process. president reagan said that the single-most important step that could be taken to achieve peace in the region for israel to halt settlement construction. president george w. bush specifically proposed a freeze in his road map for peace and assembled 90 counties in the world in support of it. so...

Since then, his actions have not matched his rhetoric. his settlement construction has continued. im joint by tonights roundtable. bob woodward, nedra pickler, with associated spread and ron fournier. bob, all our lives weve been talking middle east. always right at the top, but ive anyone -- its almost like being in israel, its okay now to take a position in the democratic party, it seems like. >> well, its -- no question about it, but i dont think its going to change the fundamentals. israel...

>> in the aftermath of netanyahus recent election victory the chance of a two-state solution appears even slimmer, of course given his reversal on the issue, on the eve of israels elections last week. remember, three months after he first took office as his countrys prime minister in 2009 netanyahu shared his vision for a two-state solution. since then his actions have not matched his rhetoric as settlement construction has continued. >> john heilemann, baker, come on. >> well -- >> well what? w...

From having peace today could prevent peace for decades to come because no palestinian leader will move from those positions that are put forward at the united nations. heres the problem. a major problem. what the palestinians want is they want a state that they dont want to give israel peace in return. israel is in favor of a palestinian state. that would end the conflict with israel. were not in favor of a palestinian state. well dont wage war against israel. >> let me ask you something about ...

The jewish settlements will be part of any peace deal. settlement construction that goes on about 90% of it is in those areas. its within the consensus not only inside of israel. >> do you deny settlement construction -- >> thats not the obstacle to peace. this conflict has been going on for 50 years. 50 years before there was a single settlement on the west bank. the reason we have not resolved our conflict with the palestinians is they refuse to recognize the right of a jewish state to exist p...

Of the palestinians. this goes to the critique of the settlement construction that settlement construction is all about preventing a palestinian state. what do you say to that? >> thats not true. the jewish settlements will be part of any peace deal. settlement construction that goes on about 90% of it is in those areas. its within the consensus not only inside of israel. >> do you deny settlement construction is about a strategic -- >> thats not the obstacle to peace. this conflict has been goi...