Insulted by Israeli plans to build more settler homes in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), the Obama administration has delivered a rebuking message to its chief ally, warning of a damage to their bilateral ties.
“The announcement of the settlements the very day that the vice president was there was insulting,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told CNN Friday, March 12.
The Israeli government unveiled plans to build 1,600 settler homes in Al-Quds as Vice-President Joe Biden was holding talks in Israel to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.
The announcement prompted the Palestinians to suspend US-sponsored indirect talks with Israel.
"I mean, it was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone -- the United States, our vice president who had gone to reassert our strong support for Israeli security,” said Clinton.
“And I regret deeply that that occurred and made that known."
Israel's continued expansion of settlements is one of the biggest obstacles to the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls by US President Barack Obama to freeze settlement building to help resume peace talks.
Under US pressures, Netanyahu only agreed to a 10-month moratorium on settlement building in the occupied West Bank, except for Al-Quds.
But the Peace Now group has found that building was continuing in a quarter of the West Bank settlement despite the announced moratorium.
The Israeli group Ir Amim also revealed Thursday that the Israeli government is planning 50,000 settlement units in Al-Quds.
