Settlers accuse US of "terrorism" over calls for construction freeze

Date: 02 / 06 / 2009  Time:  12:06
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies –

Illegal Israeli settler leaders accused the United States of “terrorism” on Monday because of calls for a freeze on construction of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

"The Americans are employing political terrorism against the State of Israel," said Danny Dayan, chairman of the Yesha Council settler organization, according to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot.

"Not only is the Obama administration renouncing the commitments made by President George W Bush in April 2004 – it's looking as if they regret President [Harry] Truman's decision on May 14th 1948 to recognize Israel's independence."

In an interview with National Public Radio on Monday, Obama reiterated his view that settlement construction should come to a complete stop. "Part of being a good friend is being honest," Obama said.

"I think there have been times where we are not as honest as we should be about the fact that the current direction, the current trajectory, in the region is profoundly negative, not only for Israeli interests but also US interests," the president said.

Dayan, the settler leader, urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue to resist US calls for a settlement freeze.

"If not,” Dayan said, according to Yediot, “this will snowball and then we won't be able to stop [Obama] on the division of Jerusalem either.

"Those who won't stop the American attempt to dictate Israel's housing policies in Samaria, Judea [the West Bank] and Jerusalem, will also see them determine the borders of this country, they will say who will be prime minister, what the coalition will look like, and most importantly what the fate of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount will be."