Rice: Settlements 'at odds' with U.S.

WASHINGTON, March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Israel's proposed expansion of settlements is "at odds" with U.S. policy.

"We've noted our concern to the Israelis," she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Friday. "We will continue to note that this is at odds with American policy."

Earlier this week, Israel said it had approved 3,500 new housing units for the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim where some 30,000 people live. The plans were approved in January by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. The proposed expansion would, according to critics, cut off residents of East Jerusalem from the West Bank. The Palestinians claim the West Bank in its entirety and also want a united Jerusalem as a capital of a future state.

Elliot Abrams, the deputy national security adviser, and David Welch, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, met with Israeli officials Wednesday to discuss the issue.

Rice said the Israeli settlement plans were "not really a satisfactory response."