WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Hours after U.S. President Barack Obama held bilateral talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. officials publicly criticized Israel for its settlement plans.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki and White House press secretary Josh Earnest issued nearly identical strongly worded statements in response to reports that the Israeli Government was moving forward with planning settlements in the Givat Hamatos area of East Jerusalem.