US voices deep dismay over Israel's settlement expansion

WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (KUNA) - The White House voiced Thursday deep dismay over Israel's announcement to expand settlements in the West Bank.
"We are deeply dismayed by Israel's announcement that they will advance thousands of new settlements and retroactively legalize nine outposts in the West Bank that were until now illegal under Israeli law," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a briefing. She stressed that the US "strongly opposes these unilateral measures which exacerbates tensions, harm trust between the parties and undermine the geographic viability of the two state solution." She added that "it has been longstanding US policy under both Republican and Democratic administrations that settlements are counterproductive to the cause of peace. The Biden administration maintains this firm opposition to the settlement expansion." "Settlement, construction and expansion in the heart of the West Bank to include the legalization of outposts creates facts on the ground that undermine a two state solution," she reiterated. (end) si.ibi