Albright expresses concern over Israeli settlements

U.S. Secretary of state Madeleine Albright expressed clear "concern" on Friday to visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon about continued Israeli settlement activity since the U.S.-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace Summit was held at the Wye River center last October.

According to Albright's chief spokesman, there has been construction of new settlements as well as expansion of existing settlements well beyond their existing parameters.

State department spokesman James Rubin said at a daily press briefing "We are concerned about an accelerated pattern of Israeli actions on the ground since Wye, which have become clearer in recent months."

Rubin said some of the settlement expansion has been to distant hilltops. "We also made clear that we are opposed to unilateral acts by Israel including and especially settlement activity," he said.

"We were told that such activities would not be promoted or allowed to take place as a matter of Israeli policy," Rubin stated.

"That is why we are particularly concerned about not only a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood but also these Israeli activities that could predetermine and prejudge issues reserved for permanent status negotiations," he said.

"They make it very difficult to pursue peace," Rubin stated.