Israelis Assail Washington Over Settlements
Israeli leaders attacked the Bush Administration on Monday, rejecting U.S. efforts to halt Jewish settlement of occupied Arab territory and accusing Washington of inciting hostility to Israel.
Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir said that Washington is trying to impose a settlement in Middle East peace talks that would force Israel to return Arab land captured in 1967.
Shamir told evangelical Christian supporters that he will never accept President Bush’s demand that Israel freeze Jewish settlement in occupied land in return for granting $10 billion in loan guarantees sought by Israel.
“There can be only one meaning to this demand: It is an attempt to determine Israel’s borders and the ultimate status of the areas in question in advance of negotiations,” he said. “We shall never agree to such a step.”
The criticism of the United States came as a visiting American team investigated allegations that Israel has provided secrets of the U.S.-made Patriot missiles to China without Washington’s approval.
“The Administration is trying to destroy Israel’s image in American public opinion,” said David Magen, minister of economic planning in Shamir’s Cabinet.
Magen accused the Bush Administration of directing a campaign of “instigation and incitement” against Israel.
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