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White House Statement Alludes To Bush Era Letter – Unlimited
White House Statement Alludes To Bush Era Letter – Unlimited Construction
Within Settlement Building Lines?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 3 February 2017
The Trump White House 2 February statement [full text follows] that mentions
“the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders”
appears to allude to the Bush era exchange of letters [excerpt below]
according to which Israel apparently would face no limitations on
construction within the “construction line of settlements”.
It is noteworthy that this related to ALL “settlements in Judea and Samaria”
and not just those within settlement “blocs”.
#1 White House statement
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 02, 2017
Statement by the Press Secretary
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/02/statement-press-secretary
“The American desire for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians has
remained unchanged for 50 years. While we don’t believe the existence of
settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements
or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may
not be helpful in achieving that goal. As the President has expressed many
times, he hopes to achieve peace throughout the Middle East region. The
Trump administration has not taken an official position on settlement
activity and looks forward to continuing discussions, including with Prime
Minister Netanyahu when he visits with President Trump later this month.”
#2 Excerpt from the 14 April 2004 exchange of letters between the Bush
Administration and the Sharon Administration:
April 14, 2004
Dr. Condoleezza Rice
National Security Adviser
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Dr. Rice,
On behalf of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Ariel Sharon, I
wish to reconfirm the following understanding, which had been reached
between us:
1. Restrictions on settlement growth: within the agreed principles of
settlement activities, an effort will be made in the next few days to have a
better definition of the construction line of settlements in Judea and
Samaria [the West Bank]. An Israeli team, in conjunction with Ambassador
Kurtzer, will review aerial photos of settlements and will jointly define
the construction line of each of the settlements.
…
Sincerely,
Dov Weisglass
Chief of the Prime Minister’s Bureau
________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il
Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=72127
