State Dept. Objects to Levy Committee’s Legalizing Outposts
Latest update: July 11th, 2012
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A settler sits on a wooden wall after Security forces demolished structures at the Ramat Migron outpost.
Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90
In a Monday State Deartment daily press briefing by Patrick Ventrell, director of the press office, the latter was asked by a reporter for his reaction to the Edmond Levy committee report which recommended legalizing most outposts which until now have been either in legal limbo, or on their way to being demolished. (The transcript was redacted for this report)
The reporter asked: “There’s an Israeli Government appointed committee which was asked to look into the legality of the settlements and has come forth with a ruling saying that they believe that essentially these settlements should be authorized, which is the Prime Minister’s position. The Israeli Government hasn’t accepted this ruling yet, but sort of stands ready to be accepted. Do you take any view on this creeping legalization of the settlement process? And is this useful at this point, ahead of Deputy Secretary Burns and the Secretary’s trip to Israel? Is this the kind of thing that you like to see happening?”
Ventrell: “The U.S. position on settlements is clear. Obviously, we’ve seen the reports that an Israeli Government appointed panel has recommended legalizing dozens of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity and we oppose any effort to legalize settlement outposts.”
Question: “So you would urge the Government of Israel not to accept this panel’s recommendation?”
Ventrell: “My understanding is this is just a panel recommendation at this point.”
Question: “Is that going to be something that Deputy Burns brings up when he’s in Israel?”
Ventrell: “I’m not sure. I can’t read out his meetings in advance.”
Question: “Is it something that you can say that you’re sufficiently concerned about?”
Ventrell: “We’re concerned about it, obviously. The Deputy Secretary will be en route, and let’s see how his meetings go and see if we can report back to you when they’re over.”
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4 Responses to “State Dept. Objects to Levy Committee’s Legalizing Outposts”
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This area is part of Israel so why not have settlements. Need more. BTW, this is Judea and Samaria, integral part of Israel from time immemorial.
As every word of the Torah of Moses is true, so is the promise of Eretz Yisrael to the Children of Yisrael as an Eternal Inheritance for all Jews here now & more to come. Are we not allowed to be fruitful & multiply, or is the world really all about selling expensive weapons of destruction while the Jews pray for peace a gazilion times a day?
It is amazing how ignorant the U.S. administration is when it comes to historical and legal facts regarding Israel. By every standard, Israel has every right to build in any area they want to. Only politics keeps them from it. I keep hoping and praying for an Israeli government to tell the U.S. to mind their own business. If it hadn't been for the U.S. throughout the years, there would have been a resolution to the arab problems in Israel many years ago. C'mon Bibi, get some chutzpah.
"This area is part of Israel so why not have settlements."
Actually the area is NOT part of Medinat Yisrael.