The Washington Post President Barack Obama to permit “natural growth” in settlements, the generally left-wing newspaper wrote in an editorial today. The Obama administration recently called for an end to all settlement activity, but Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insists on maintaining natural growth in existing settlements. The newspaper asserts that Obama can accept the dismantling of illegal settlements and refraining from building new settlements as a “freeze” on settlement activity. The editorial further claims that Arabs would view the continued natural growth as fodder from fulfilling their obligations. Instead, the editorial urges the Administration to continue pressuring Palestinians while permitting limited natural growth in settlements as a compromise position.
