Israel must stop building settlements: Obama
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E-mail Xinhua, March 22, 2013
U.S. President Barack Obama called on the Israeli government Thursday to stop building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, saying "continued settlement is counterproductive to peace."
Obama, who is in Israel on a three-day visit, was delivering a speech to Israeli students which was televised.
In the emotional speech, Obama said an independent and viable Palestinian state is the only way to peace and security of Israel and he believed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is a true partner for peace with Israel.
Obama also expressed his objection to unilateral steps in solving the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
"The U.S. will oppose unilateral steps that attempt to bypass negotiations in the UN," he said, adding that "Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer."
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