WASHINGTON - The United States stopped short Monday of criticizing Israel's plans to build new settlements in the West Bank, but said it has expressed "some concern" about such construction in the past.
Sean McCormack, spokesman for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said he "will ask the secretary about any conversations that she's had regarding the announcement over the weekend over the new construction of settlements.
"I know we have raised this with the Israelis. We've expressed some concern about this," McCormack told reporters apparently referring to past Israeli settlement announcements and their impact on the new peace process.
Rice, who visited Israel and the Palestinian territories last week to keep the peace process from being derailed by an upsurge in violence, was due to host talks later Monday with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
"I have not had a chance to talk to Secretary Rice about the meeting" with Livni yet, he added.
Israel announced at the weekend plans to build hundreds of new housing units in a settlement in the occupied West Bank.
The decision was denounced by Palestinian officials who said it would shatter efforts to relaunch the peace process that has been stagnant since it was revived in late November.
Jerusalem authorities said on Monday they planned to build a new Jewish settlement in the annexed eastern part of the city.
lc/ddl
03/10/2008 14:40