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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Israel rejects US call over settlement work | Israel rejects US call over settlement work |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Israel will continue to allow some construction in West Bank settlements despite US calls for a freeze on its work, a government spokesman says. | Israel will continue to allow some construction in West Bank settlements despite US calls for a freeze on its work, a government spokesman says. |
| Mark Regev said the fate of the settlements should be decided in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. | Mark Regev said the fate of the settlements should be decided in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. |
| His remarks appear to be a rebuff to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said all such activity should cease. | His remarks appear to be a rebuff to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said all such activity should cease. |
| Her comments came hours before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was due to meet US President Barack Obama. | |
| Mrs Clinton said on Wednesday there must be no exceptions to President Obama's demands for Israel's settlement work to stop. | |
| Speaking to reporters after a meeting with her Egyptian counterpart, Mrs Clinton said that the president was "very clear" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their recent meeting that there should be a stop to all settlements. | Speaking to reporters after a meeting with her Egyptian counterpart, Mrs Clinton said that the president was "very clear" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their recent meeting that there should be a stop to all settlements. |
| Challenge of Israeli settlements | Challenge of Israeli settlements |
| "Not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions. We think it is in the best interest of the effort that we are engaged in that settlement expansion cease," Mrs Clinton said. | "Not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions. We think it is in the best interest of the effort that we are engaged in that settlement expansion cease," Mrs Clinton said. |
| Correspondents say it is the first time in years that US officials have been so vocal in calling for a settlement freeze in the Palestinian territories. | Correspondents say it is the first time in years that US officials have been so vocal in calling for a settlement freeze in the Palestinian territories. |
| Stumbling block | Stumbling block |
| Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, said on Thursday that the future of the settlements would be decided only when peace negotiations were held with the Palestinians. | Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, said on Thursday that the future of the settlements would be decided only when peace negotiations were held with the Palestinians. |
| "In the interim period, we have to allow normal life in those communities to continue," he said. | "In the interim period, we have to allow normal life in those communities to continue," he said. |
| He echoed comments made by Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday. | He echoed comments made by Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday. |
| Mr Netanyahu said no new settlements would be built, but natural growth in existing settlements should be allowed. | Mr Netanyahu said no new settlements would be built, but natural growth in existing settlements should be allowed. |
| "There is no way that we are going to tell people not to have children or to force young people to move away from their families," he was quoted as telling the Israeli cabinet on Sunday. | "There is no way that we are going to tell people not to have children or to force young people to move away from their families," he was quoted as telling the Israeli cabinet on Sunday. |
| However, he has pledged to remove makeshift outposts in the West Bank - small settlements, sometimes with only a few people - that the Israeli government itself considers illegal. | However, he has pledged to remove makeshift outposts in the West Bank - small settlements, sometimes with only a few people - that the Israeli government itself considers illegal. |
| "We will take care of them, if possible by dialogue," he said. "There is no doubt that we have committed ourselves to deal with them." | "We will take care of them, if possible by dialogue," he said. "There is no doubt that we have committed ourselves to deal with them." |
| The issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to President Obama's bid to re-start the Middle East peace process. | |
| The Palestinian Authority says it has ruled out restarting peace talks with Israel unless it freezes settlement activity and removes all roadblocks in the West Bank. | The Palestinian Authority says it has ruled out restarting peace talks with Israel unless it freezes settlement activity and removes all roadblocks in the West Bank. |
| President Abbas is expected to reiterate the conditions during talks at the White House with Mr Obama. | President Abbas is expected to reiterate the conditions during talks at the White House with Mr Obama. |
| Some 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. | Some 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. |
| Under the US-backed 2003 roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to end all settlement activity, specifically including natural growth. | Under the US-backed 2003 roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to end all settlement activity, specifically including natural growth. |
| The plan also requires the Palestinian Authority to crack down on militants who seek to attack Israelis. | The plan also requires the Palestinian Authority to crack down on militants who seek to attack Israelis. |
| Are you in the region? What is your reaction to Israeli and US views on settlement activity? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in the region? What is your reaction to Israeli and US views on settlement activity? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |