In this Tuesday , March 12, 2013 photo, a Palestinian woman walks past posters showing US President Barack Obama in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Obama’s trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israeli officials say will take place March 20-22, is the U.S. leader’s first trip to the region as president, and his first overseas trip since being reelected. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
Obama: Israeli settlements not constructive
Published: 02:54:21 PM, Thu 21 March 2013 UTC
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — President Barack Obama says he's told Israel's leaders the U.S. does not consider settlement activity in the West Bank to be constructive or appropriate.
He says the activity does not advance the cause of peace.
Obama spoke at a news conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Obama says he recognizes that halting settlement activity is tough politically for Israeli leaders.
But he suggests that Palestinians should not make it a condition to resuming peace negotiations with Israel. He says there's no point to negotiations if the expectation is that everything must be figured out in advance.
Obama met Wednesday in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tags:
ap, obama, mahmoud abbas, benjamin netanyahu, president mahmoud abbas, yasser arafat, palestinian national authority, west bank, culture_politics, wednesday, u.s., news conference, israel, president barack obama, expectation, cause, jerusalem, advance, palestinians, ramallah, second intifada, authority, peace negotiations, israeli prime minister, israeli settlement, israeli leaders, oslo accords, israeli settlements, settlement activity
