The State Department said it was “dismayed” Thursday that Israel has started new settlement construction on two sites, one in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip.
The settlements, Alon, near the West Bank town of Kfar Adumim, and Dugit are “an obstacle to the achievement of a just and lasting peace,” said deputy department spokesman Richard Boucher.
“We are dismayed by reports that Israel is going ahead with two new settlements in the occupied territories,” he added.
A State Department source said Dugit is among the eight locations on which the now-defunct national unity government agreed in 1988 to construct new settlements. The department has previously issued statements criticizing construction activity at Dugit.
The source said the United States considers Alon to be a new Jewish settlement, which is not on the list of eight. But Israel’s interim government considered it as the extension of an existing settlement about a mile away from one at Kfar Adumim, thereby not requiring approval.
The construction permits for the Alon settlement were obtained after the Labor Party left the government March 15.
Boucher called it “disturbing” that Israel’s interim government “is taking steps the national unity government was unwilling to take on settlements.”
Boucher had no response to the argument that by building more settlements, Israel may feel strong enough to take risks for peace.
He said U.S. officials would be raising settlement concerns with Israel, but will not respond with any cut in U.S. aid.
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