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Ayalon: We can't 'strangle' 300,000 residents of settlements

Israel will not freeze natural growth in settlements, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Thursday, adding that "you cannot strangle 300,000 residents." Speaking to Israel Radio, Ayalon said that Israel cannot be expected to take immediate measures when "the other side isn't even prepared to make a small step." The deputy foreign minister stressed that any move on settlements would be made as part of a regional agreement, and that Israel and the US saw "eye-to-eye" on a final status deal to resolve the Middle East conflict.