US: 'Our position against unilateral Israeli settlement activity is clear'

• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Published date: 09 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Look, we don't always – in fact we never read out our private diplomatic conversations, the back and forth we have, whether that's with our Israeli partners or any partner around the world," Price said.

"But suffice it to say we have made our position very clear, and when it comes to unilateral action like settlement activity, we have also made that very clear," he said.

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"And in fact, I just reiterated where the United States stands on settlement activity. There should be no question about that," Price said on Thursday.

He spoke in the aftermath of a report by The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Walla, that the Biden administration was quietly calling on Israel to restrain settlement activity.

Price, however, has been fairly blunt about the Biden administration's opposition to it, including at the Washington briefing on Thursday.

"We believe it is critical for all parties to refrain from those unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and, again, undercut efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution," he said. "That includes, as I was saying before in a different context, annexation of territory, settlement activity, demolitions and evictions" and "incitement to violence."

Price also spoke of US opposition to Palestinian Authority monthly stipends to jailed terrorists and family members of slain ones. In addition, he condemned violence by settlers and Jewish extremists against Palestinians.

The State Department spokesman spoke as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr wrapped up his three-day visit to the area, where During his visit he held talks with Israelis and Palestinians. The US embassy in Jerusalem released a summary of his visit, including a list of topics that were raised during the talks, such as humanitarian issues, the two-state...