Paul Richter
Rebuffing Israel, Secretary of State Clinton said Wednesday that President Obama "wants to see a stop to settlements - not some settlements, not outposts, not natural-growth exceptions." "We intend to press that point," Clinton said in an appearance at the State Department with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Israeli officials maintain that existing settlements should be allowed to expand to accommodate the natural growth of Jewish families. Israeli officials are willing to limit growth in outlying settlements, but contend that expansion should be allowed in larger settlements, closer to Israeli territory, that probably would be annexed to Israel in any final settlement. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated Sunday that there must be an allowance for "natural growth."
(Los Angeles Times)
