Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington was "deeply troubled" by the move and added that US officials have made clear publicly and privately to Israel their opposition to such moves.
“I will reiterate our longstanding position which we have said publicly from this podium. Privately, we say this directly to Israeli officials — that we believe that settlements are an impediment to a negotiated two-state solution along 1967 lines, which ultimately we believe is the best way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” added Miller.
The comments came after the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Council gave final approval for 818 units, including 359 in Elkana, 381 in Revava, 29 in Givat Ze'ev, 42 in Carmel, and seven in Hermesh.
First stage approvals were granted for 4,915 units including: 1,563 in Eli, 98 in Ariel, 714 in Givat Ze'ev, 340 in Ma'ale Adumim, 312 in Beitar Illit, 310 in Adura, 264 in Etz Efraim, 152 in Ma'ale Amos, and 78 in Asfar (Metzad).
Miller’s comments are the latest in a series of recent US condemnations of planned Israeli construction of homes for Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria. READ MORE
