The United States sees Israel's announcement on Sunday of a land appropriation for possible settlement construction in the West Bank as 'counterproductive' to peace efforts and urges the Israeli government to reverse the decision, a State Department official said. 'We have long made clear our opposition to continued settlement activity,' the US official said. ' This announcement, like every other settlement announcement Israel makes, planning step they approve and construction tender they issue is counterproductive to Israel's stated goal of a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians.' 'We urge the government of Israel to reverse this decision,' the official said in Washington.
