Secretary of State Hillary Clinton preemptively rebuffed yesterday a settlement compromise proposition expected for delivery by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Israeli seeks U.S. support for natural settlement growth in exchange for the dismantling of illegal outposts. However, at a press conference, Clinton reiterated the official stance of the White House and Administration- an end to all forms of settlements, illegal, expansions, and natural growth. She stated:
“the President was very clear when Prime Minister Netanyahu was here. He wants to see a stop to settlements – not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions. We think it is in the best interests of the effort that we are engaged in that settlement expansion cease. That is our position. That is what we have communicated very clearly, not only to the Israelis but to the Palestinians and others. And we intend to press that point.”
