Poll: Americans oppose Israeli settlements

In the US, a survey suggests that nearly 50 percent of Americans think Israel should be forced to stop building new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

A national telephone survey conducted by Rasmussen says 49 percent of Americans believe that “Israel (should) be required to stop building new settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.” This is while only 22 percent believe it should not.

Earlier this month, Tel Aviv announced plans to build 16,000 new settlements units in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).

The opinion poll also suggests that over 70 percent of Americans think it is unlikely that there will be a lasting peace between the Palestinians and Israelis in the next decade.

US-Israel ties have been strained over Israel's approval of the new settlements, announced during an official visit by US Vice President Joe Biden last week.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded by telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the plan was a "deeply negative signal."

Tel Aviv's Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren later commented that "Israel's relations with the US are facing the most severe crisis since 1975."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121175§ionid=3510203.