...MR. KELLY: Next question, Kirit (*) from ABC.
QUESTION: A question, Madame Secretary, about settlements. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that he is going to freeze settlement expansion – new settlement expansion, excuse me – but he’s not made any commitment towards freezing existing settlement growth. Do you think that’s enough?...
...With respect to settlements, the President was very clear when Prime Minister Netanyahu was here. He wants to see a stop to settlements – not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions. We think it is in the best interests of the effort that we are engaged in that settlement expansion cease. That is our position. That is what we have communicated very clearly, not only to the Israelis but to the Palestinians and others. And we intend to press that point.
UPDATE
Israel will continue to allow some construction in West Bank settlements despite US calls for a freeze on its work, a government spokesman says.
Mark Regev said the fate of the settlements should be decided in peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
His remarks appear to be a rebuff to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said all such activity should cease.
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