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U.S. Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman meeting in Washington on Wednesday.
(Shahar Azran)
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Last update - 00:00 18/06/2009
Lieberman to Clinton: Israel won't freeze settlements
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: Avigdor Lieberman 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday that Israel could not accept the Obama administration's demand to "completely" halt activity in West Bank settlements.

"We have no intention to change the demographic balance in Judea and Samaria," Lieberman said during his talks with the secretary of state in Washington. "Everywhere people are born, people die, and we cannot accept a vision of stopping completely the settlements. We have to keep the natural growth."

Still, he said, Israel "ready for direct negotiations with the Palestinians."
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Meanwhile, Clinton reiterated that the U.S. viewed a total settlement freeze as "important and essential" step toward achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

She said that special Mideast envoy George Mitchell would look at a "number of critical concerns" regarding settlements.

"There are a number of critical concerns, many of which overlap in their impact and significance, that will be explored in the coming weeks as Senator Mitchell engages more deeply into the specifics as to where the Israelis and the Palestinians are willing to go together."

Clinton also said that Israeli leaders have in the past shifted their stance on the issue, and expected the current government to evolve in the same fashion.

Israel maintains that it reached understandings with the Bush administration on settlement construction that would allow for continued building within existing communities on the West Bank. The Obama administration rejects this position.

Clinton cited a recent Washington Post op-ed piece by former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer.

In background discussions with journalists, former Bush administration officials said that no formal agreements exist which support Israel's contention that the U.S. approves of settlement construction to accomodate natural growth, Kurtzer wrote.

Meanwhile, Mitchell, who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday, said that the U.S. seeks a "prompt resumption" of peace negotiations, and predicted preparations for the process could conclude within a matter of weeks.

Western and Israeli officials said this week that while the United States wants Israel to impose a moratorium on new tenders for building in settlements, it was nevertheless considering allowances that could permit some projects already under way to proceed.

U.S. President Barack Obama's blunt and public call for Israel to halt all settlement activity in the West Bank has opened a rare rift between the close allies. But both sides say they are eager to work out their differences.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Mitchell in Europe next week to try to hammer out an agreement, Israeli officials said.

"That's our goal but we're not there yet," a senior Israeli official said.

Mitchell has said a key element has been trying to pin down exactly what Israel means by the "natural growth" of settlements that Netanyahu has said he will defend. In principle, Netanyahu says he wants growing families to be able to accommodate their children in the towns that Israelis have built.

While firm in demanding a ban on new tenders as part of an overall settlement freeze, Western and Israeli officials said the Obama administration was assessing in which cases continued building could be permitted.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said allowances for continued building could be made if, for example, a project in a settlement was nearing completion or for cases in which money has been invested in a project and cannot be reimbursed.

"There's room for some flexibility in defining what's acceptable in terms of a settlement freeze. Where do you draw the line?" the official said of deliberations within the Obama administration.

The officials said the Obama administration has yet to agree to any exceptions, and stressed that Washington's stated goal of a total freeze in settlement activity, including building in existing blocs to accommodate growing settler families, known as "natural growth", would not change.

Mitchell said in Washington on Tuesday of his meetings with Israeli and other officials: "There are almost as many definitions (of natural growth) as there are people speaking."

He added: "Different people have different interpretations of different phrases ... and we're trying to reach an agreement and understanding that helps us move the process forward."

Netanyahu has asserted that his government does not have the legal authority to stop building in cases in which tenders for new structures have already been awarded or when homes under construction have already been purchased.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat rejected any loopholes that would allow any building.

Yariv Oppenheimer of the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now said Israel was likely to use any U.S. flexibility to ramp up building in the West Bank.

"In the past, every time there was an understanding, the outcome was Israel doubled the number of settlers in the West Bank," he said.

Some half a million Jews live among nearly three million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories which were captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day War.

Related articles:
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  • U.S. could yield on settlement freeze, says government source
  • 'U.S.-Israel row over West Bank settlements to be resolved soon'
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      1.   hilarious 22:46  |  eli 17/06/09
      2.   Israel and U.S. deciding on arab land 22:53  |  james 17/06/09
      3.   A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Settlement... 23:01  |  Yosemite 17/06/09
      4.   Divide and rule - again. 23:03  |  Palestinian Brit 17/06/09
      5.   Clinton 23:03  |  The Teacher/Instruct 17/06/09
      6.   Sorry Nobama and Hillaryous we are not drinking the koolade. 23:06  |  4:20 17/06/09
      7.   Until an agreement - why not live and build in Palestine? 23:07  |  B`galil 17/06/09
      8.   Let P.M. Netanyahu appoint an emissary 23:07  |  Harriet 17/06/09
      9.   For each Israeli allowed to East of the 1967 Boundary, one 23:08  |  Observer 17/06/09
      10.   Say it loud and clear;OCCUPIED TERRITORRIES 23:11  |  Kris Lazar 17/06/09
      11.   2james "colonialism in its worst form?" Do you mean like 23:13  |  just wondering 17/06/09
      12.   obama`s "decision" re Israel 23:14  |  Maureen 17/06/09
      13.   Lieberman Likes to Play Statesman 23:15  |  Yaakov Sullivan 17/06/09
      14.   Newsflash: Everything West of Jordan is Israel 23:18  |  Baruch Gold 17/06/09
      15.   No settlements 23:22  |  Mo 17/06/09
      16.   Lieberman wants Obama to knock the crap out of Israel 23:23  |  Uri Levy 17/06/09
      17.   tactics 23:28  |  Muskens 17/06/09
      18.   Line or rubberband ? 23:31  |  David 17/06/09
      19.   FM Lieberman.....and Ms.Clinton. 23:33  |  Stephen. 17/06/09
      20.   Land grab 23:33  |  John 17/06/09
      21.   OUR Land: We Will Continue Building 23:34  |  Yishai Kohen 17/06/09
      22.   Define "Arab land" 23:47  |  Michael 17/06/09
      23.   Then demand a total freeze on building in Israeli Arab towns 23:54  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/06/09
      24.   dont stop births - just stop stealing!! 23:59  |  Don 17/06/09
      25.   I`m moving soon to my new house in "East" Jerusalem 00:11  |  Vitaly 18/06/09
      26.   Israel = Threat to US security; Sanctions now 00:12  |  G. 18/06/09
      27.   Settlements are weeds unworthy of "natural growth" 00:23  |  Ivar 18/06/09
      28.   Clinton to Lieberman--oh yeah ruskie--we will see 00:24  |  andrea 18/06/09
      29.   why is this an issue? 00:33  |  Daniel 18/06/09
      30.   Response to no 2 00:39  |  Gila 18/06/09
      31.   "Arab" land 00:42  |  IW 18/06/09
      32.   2. not "arab" land, not colonialism 00:42  |  Paul Freedman 18/06/09
      33.   He cant legally stop? 00:45  |  billy jack 18/06/09
      34.   I love Lieberman chutzpa! 00:51  |  Jose Pedro 18/06/09
      35.   Mrs.Clinton 00:52  |  Nezam el Jenini 18/06/09
      36.   Great trip 00:55  |  David 18/06/09
      37.   israel does freeze settling 00:58  |  loew 18/06/09
      38.   to james 00:59  |  david 18/06/09
      39.   #1 Eli Don`t forget to include Chandra Levy. 01:00  |  Lou Medel 18/06/09
      40.   We`ll just see about that. 01:06  |  Student 18/06/09
      41.   A Clear and Certain Position 01:07  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/09
      42.   Good faith negotiation? 01:14  |  Bazmann 18/06/09
      43.   Middle East Czar George Mitchell 01:19  |  Jeff Northridge 18/06/09
      44.   "no intention to change the demographic balance 01:19  |  Dolphin 18/06/09
      45.   The Foreign Minister said "a settlement freeze is not an option" 01:23  |  Realist 18/06/09
      46.   Disgusting!! FREE PALESTINE!! 01:35  |  Erin 18/06/09
      47.   Israeli Stance 02:34  |  jimbo 18/06/09
      48.   Lieberman 02:57  |  Lobo 18/06/09
      49.   This is such nonsense. 03:11  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      50.   The Unending War of Words in Orwellian Israel 03:19  |  jim the mechanic 18/06/09
      51.   Why do I feel ashamed by Lieberman? 03:23  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/06/09
      52.   Mr Lieberman, thank you for your honesty. 03:26  |  Lou Medel 18/06/09
      53.   What will US pressure consist in? 03:26  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/06/09
      54.   Israel Won`t? 03:28  |  Cool B 18/06/09
      55.   Sanity makes an appearance in American policy 03:29  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      56.   clinton and liberman 03:29  |  pete 18/06/09
      57.   An obvious example of estoppel 03:35  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 18/06/09
      58.   US SHOULD REFUSE TO DEAL WITH THIS CROOK 03:43  |  American 18/06/09
      59.   Settlements equal true intentions 03:45  |  Adam 18/06/09
      60.   In the end, Israel will give up 03:46  |  peacelover 18/06/09
      61.   Unevolved 03:52  |  J.O 18/06/09
      62.   #2, it is NOT arab land 04:14  |  Tiffany 18/06/09
      63.   3. PA lays claim to Jewish land 04:16  |  Paul Freedman 18/06/09
      64.   Celestial Carpet Realty 04:16  |  Jack 18/06/09
      65.   Lieberman 04:23  |  al 18/06/09
      66.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 04:33  |  KAKUSA 18/06/09
      67.   eli 04:44  |  kj 18/06/09
      68.   Why can`t they just swap. 04:44  |  Wile E Coyote 18/06/09
      69.   What Hypocracy 04:54  |  Tim 18/06/09
      70.   OH, POOR HILLARY 05:06  |  indrajaya 18/06/09
      71.   Obama is hateful 05:11  |  paul almond 18/06/09
      72.   6 Why do I feel ashamed by Lieberman? 05:40  |  David 18/06/09
      73.   #8 I think I can answer that, Fortuna 05:41  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      74.   Trust in G-d, not in the USA 06:09  |  Binyamin Dissen 18/06/09
      75.   An Irresistable Peace Package Deal 06:17  |  Shimon Cleopas 18/06/09
      76.   greg 3338 06:21  |  Ggeg Mendelson 18/06/09
      77.   #17 Tiffany 06:22  |  schocam 18/06/09
      78.   #18 Just to point out something, Paul Freedman 07:05  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      79.   Fortuna, what Israel? 07:21  |  BBSNews 18/06/09
      80.   There`s still hope yet Lou Medel, Secretary Clinton said... 07:25  |  BBSNews 18/06/09
      81.   to 9 07:29  |  yoss 18/06/09
      82.   "we have to keep the natural growth"? no sir! not at all! 07:45  |  eric 18/06/09
      83.   "we have to keep the natural growth"? no sir! not at all! 07:52  |  eric 18/06/09
      84.   To #3 Jimbo 08:12  |  Boris 18/06/09
      85.   someday, in the not-too-distant future...... 08:27  |  jake 18/06/09
      86.   What is the Arabs Leaqgues offer? 08:48  |  No Dope 18/06/09
      87.   Lieberman is saying to Clinton: "Take-it-or-lump-it!" 08:51  |  Esther 18/06/09
      88.   Demographic balance is ok as long the Pals pay. 10:35  |  American citizen 18/06/09
      89.   #13. Please do not equate the US with Isarel the occupier. 10:36  |  American citizen 18/06/09
      90.   I too believe in the one-state-solution 10:43  |  Suad 18/06/09
      91.   To # 4: well he would answser 3000 years ago ....... 10:45  |  Suad 18/06/09
      92.   To # 10: yeah let`s watch this US Government ... 10:48  |  Suad 18/06/09
      93.   To # 11: Ha Ha this is a good one. I agree 10:48  |  Suad 18/06/09
      94.   To # 13: They don`t want him there (Moldavia) !! 10:50  |  Suad 18/06/09
      95.   To # 14: Well all US governments knew this .... 10:50  |  Suad 18/06/09
      96.   To # 17: Here we go again. Back to 3000 years .... 10:55  |  Suad 18/06/09
      97.   Ignore Obama, he said he wouldn`t tell countries what to do so 11:06  |  Scott 18/06/09
      98.   What`s "natural" about growth on ill-appropriated lands...? 11:39  |  Esther 18/06/09
      99.   Another solution, Part 2 13:47  |  r cummings 18/06/09
      100.   If Israel doesn`t freeze the settlements 15:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/06/09
      101.   #62 15:45  |  chucky in MD 18/06/09
      102.   r cummings on the third of palestine 15:46  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/06/09
      103.   No more money 16:07  |  Paul 18/06/09
      104.   should all be Israel 17:03  |  Sal 18/06/09
      105.   Israel sinks like lead... 17:17  |  gly 18/06/09
      106.   Scott@97 Verily true,we must ignore Obama,he is wrong.BECAUSE. 17:20  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/06/09
      107.   as long as 18:29  |  abu-halil 18/06/09
      108.   Freeze impossible ? 18:58  |  David 18/06/09
      109.   to Suad. Palestinians are there for more than 2thousand years! 18:59  |  Tony Silver 18/06/09
      110.   #108 Hi Yo Silver 19:17  |  *BEN JABO 18/06/09
      111.   All these threats of freezing aid 19:24  |  Gee 18/06/09
      112.   How to attain a settlement freeze...easily 19:43  |  Roo 18/06/09
      113.   Non Tony,thats not even a little true 20:02  |  RfaelMoshe 18/06/09
      114.   Another solution – Part 3 20:33  |  r cummings 18/06/09
      115.   american righteousness 22:07  |  abu-halil 18/06/09
      116.   Settlers are anti-israel 01:23  |  Joe W 19/06/09
      117.   Neither Isrealis nor Palestinians want peace 04:40  |  ghostoflutherblisset 19/06/09
      118.   israel 06:35  |  scott 19/06/09
      119.   illegal land grab land grab 07:48  |  shaw chirez 19/06/09
      120.   when I saw the headline... 08:32  |  david 19/06/09
      121.   ROO Many world leaders do not favor a nuclear armed Iran 09:02  |  PETER SM 19/06/09
      122.   to #101- TOSSING ISRAEL TO TERRORISTS WILL NOT SAVE US 09:31  |  TIFFANY 19/06/09
      123.   Clinton doesnt care - she`s another colonialist 16:39  |  Tcherkessi 19/06/09
      124.   Israel should lose its membership at the UN... 19:49  |  Dutch 21/06/09
      125.   to dutch 23:27  |  EW 26/07/09
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