Jerusalem: Israel defied a surprisingly blunt US demand that it freeze all building in West Bank colonies, saying on Thursday it will press ahead with construction.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that President Barack Obama wants Israel a halt to all colony construction – including "natural growth".
She was referring to Israel’s insistence that new construction is necessary to accommodate the expansion of families already living in existing colonies.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pushing President Barack Obama to facilitate peace with Israel through a larger solution to the Middle East conflict.