'US secretly supports WB settlements'

[TriWooOx]

Israeli authorities claim that four years ago they reached a secret agreement with the US government to expand the West Bank settlements.

A letter was hand delivered to then Israeli premier Ariel Sharon by George W. Bush, which gave the green light to Israelis to continue expanding settlements in West Bank, the Washington Post reported.

The existence of the letter was also confirmed by Incumbent Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert earlier this week.

Olmert said the letter provided the necessary US support to continue the expansion of the disputed settlements in the West Bank.

The recent revelation hampers efforts to reach a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.

Furthermore, Israeli authorities claim that the agreement was also reaffirmed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

US officials however deny the existence of such a letter saying that they -including Rice- have always opposed the expansion of settlements in West Bank.

Although US officials deny the existence of the letter, they have not taken any serious steps to halt the recent constructions settlements, which has infuriated the Palestinian authorities.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=52 ... =351020202

[Ralph Furely]

as slimey as it gets.