Jerusalem, March 25: Israel proceeds with what has been denounced as its insidious annexation of the Palestinian territories, following a meeting between the regime’s premier and the US president.
Tel Aviv plans to build a total of 100 more settler units in the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, said a local city councilman and member of the municipal planning commission, Elisha Peleg on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday without disclosing the nature of the talks.
The American side has likewise withheld comments on the meeting held amid an alleged dispute between the two close allies after Israel announced a plan to build a 1,600-unit settlement in East Al-Quds.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had formerly denounced the settlement expansion as a “deeply negative signal.”
However, she presented a different face addressing the annual conference of the major Israeli pressure group in the US, the AIPAC, reaffirming Washington’s strong ties with Tel Aviv prior to the Tuesday meeting. “Guaranteeing Israel’s security is more than a policy position for me; it is a personal commitment that will never waver.” she said on Monday.
It is common for top US Administration officials and congressional leaders and representatives to race to AIPAC conferences to express loyalty to the regime that occupies Palestine.
According to the non-profit anti-lobby organization ‘Common Cause’ and similar groups in the US that campaign against political contributions by powerful corporate and lobby groups, an overwhelming majority of American Senators and House Representatives receive financial contribution and important lobbying support from AIPAC.
Meanwhile, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat fired a broadside at Netanyahu, saying, “When we say peace or settlements, it seems he goes for the settlements.”
——–Agencies