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21:53 GMT
WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (KUNA) -- Reports of Israeli plans to build homes for Israeli settlers in the military compound in Al-Khalil, or Hebron, would appear to be an effort to expand civilian Israeli settlements in the West Bank city, the US said Tuesday.
These plans would also represent a "deeply concerning" settlement expansion on land that is at least partially owned by Palestinians, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
"We strongly oppose all settlement activity, which is corrosive to the cause of peace, and we have said repeatedly such moves are not consistent with Israel's stated desire to achieve a two-state solution," Toner said during a briefing.
"We are concerned by the accelerated rate of demolitions undertaken by Israeli authorities that continue, not just specifically in Hebron Hills, but frankly throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and we raise those concerns with Israeli authorities," he said.
Responding to reports that Israel is re-arresting Palestinians who have been released and putting them under administrative detention, Toner said, all individuals should be treated humanely and have their basic human rights upheld.
"We always raise concerns (with the Israeli government) that we may have regarding overly long administrative detentions, ones that don't seem to be resolved in any kind of expedient fashion," he added. (end)
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