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Britain says Israeli settlements 'obstacle' to Mideast peace


British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in Jordan on Tuesday that Israeli settlements Israeli settlements are communities inhabited by Israeli Jews in territory that came under Israel's control as a result of the 1967 Six-Day War. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank, which is partially under Israeli military administration[1]  remain an "obstacle to peace" between the Palestinians and Israel.

"Settlements are illegal in our view and an obstacle to peace settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem East Jerusalem refers to the part of Jerusalem captured by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and subsequently by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. It includes Jerusalem's Old City and some of the holiest sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, such as the Temple Mount, Western ," Miliband told a news conference after talks with King Abdullah King Abdullah can refer to:
  • Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, regent of Saudi Arabia since 1995 and king since 2005.
  • Abdullah II, king of Jordan since 1999
  • Abdullah I, Emir of Transjordan (1921–1946) and King of Transjordan (1946–1951)
 II.

"The settlements challenge the heart of... a Palestinian state The Palestinian state (Arabic (دولة فلسطين) is a proposed country. The proposed location includes the Gaza Strip and the autonomously controlled areas of the West Bank, currently controlled by the Palestinian National ."

His remarks came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is on a regional tour, faces an Arab backlash after praising Israel's plan to ease settlement growth.

Clinton extended her trip to Egypt after she was criticised for calling "unprecedented" steps that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would take to limit settlement growth -- steps that fall far short of previous US demands for a complete halt to all settlement activity.

She later clarified her comments to say that Washington still considers the settlements to be illegal.

"It's so important for all those who care about security and social justice in this region that discussions about borders and territory are restarted in a serious way, because if you can progress on border and territory, you can resolve the settlements issue," Miliband said.

"The settlements are obviously an obstacle."

Miliband, who also held talks in Amman with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell George Mitchell may refer to:
  • George Mitchell (actor) (died 1972), actor whose a last major role was comic relief as the cantankerous survivor Jackson in The Andromeda Strain (film)
  • George Mitchell (musician) (1917–2002), Scottish musician
, described the situation in Jerusalem as "tense."

"The current situation is obviously particularly tense in respect of Jerusalem. We view events there with considerable concern, along with our EU and international partners," he said.

"We view with particular concern... the recent report of settlers moving into a Palestinian family's home today."

Dozens of Israeli settlers took over a house in mostly Arab east Jerusalem on Tuesday armed with a court order secured after a protracted pro·tract  
tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts
1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations.

2.
 legal battle with a Palestinian family, witnesses and police said.

Members of the Al-Kurd family demonstrated outside the house along with other Arab residents and pro-Palestinian activists as the settlers hurled the family's belongings into the street, a neighbour told AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk network. In order for non-Apple networks to access data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must translate into the AFP language. See file sharing protocol. .

Miliband, meanwhile, said any alternatives to a two-state solution The two-state solution envisions two separate states in the Western portion of the historic region of Palestine, one Jewish and another Arab to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict.  to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are "dark and unwelcome."

"It's important we don't lose sight of the importance of a two-state solution for all peoples of the region. I think the alternatives are dark and unwelcome for all sides," he said.

He called for finding "a credible root to a credible (Palestinian) state and credible peace" in the region.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
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Author:AFP
Publication:AFP Global Edition
Date:Nov 3, 2009
Words:400
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