The Carter Administration today declared that “any creation of new settlements or expansion of existing ones” by Israel on occupied land “are an impediment to the Middle East peace process.” State Department chief spokesman Hodding Carter told reporters that the Israel Cabinet had given assurances “no private land will be taken for expansion of settlements.”
Carter added, “Naturally, any restraint the Israeli government applies to settlement activity is in the right direction. Nevertheless, the Israeli position still permits the expansion of existing settlements. Thus, I repeat, we oppose any acquisition of land for settlements, particularly when negotiations are underway about the future of those territories.”
Rejecting any compromise or any further Jewish residence in the occupied territories, the Department spokesman said that the Carter Administration’s “concern” is “the overall continuing settlement activity including acquisition of any land for settlements.”
After he said that the Israel Cabinet’s decision would be closely watched to see how it is being implemented spokesman Carter was asked whether he was warning Israel of support by the State Department for efforts in Congress to punish Israel by withholding U.S. aid. “Absolutely not,” Carter replied. Efforts in both the House and Senate to reduce aid to Israel over the settlement issued have been over whelmingly defeated.
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