Rice criticizes Israel on West Bank settlements

Source: AP

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's persistent building of Jewish homes on disputed land undermines the U.S.-backed attempt to write an Israeli-Palestinian peace draft this year and invites questions about Israel's motives, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.

Using exceptionally harsh language, the visiting U.S. envoy said Israel must understand the pall its actions cast over talks and on the confidence of the United States, European nations and others that Israel is bargaining in good faith. She said the Jewish state has apparently picked up the pace of housing expansion since President Bush inaugurated negotiations with a splashy summit at Annapolis, Md.

"We should be in a position of encouraging confidence, not undermining it. No party should be taking steps at this point that could prejudice the outcome of the negotiation," Rice said following meetings with Palestinian officials in the West Bank.

She said Israeli actions are having a "negative effect" on the atmosphere for talks, and she stressed that the United States won't regard any settlements Israel builds now as permanent Israeli territory.

Read more: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080615/D91ALTD80.html

She was criticizing Israel because it "cast a pall" and had "undermined confidence", not because of what they did. It was just a polite reminder that appearance is everything and they were being just a little too brazen.

She must see the exit signs now and realize she has nothing to lose.

That's why they can act like they do.