The United States voiced dismay Thursday following a decision by Israel to expand settlements in Judea and Samaria.
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The White House said settlement activity "creates facts on the ground that undermine a two-state solution."
"The United States strongly opposes these unilateral measures which exacerbate tensions, harm trust between the parties and undermine the geographic viability of the two-state solution," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Thursday that the draft resolution – one that would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities – that the United Nations Security Council is considering would not yield results.
"Steps like settlement activity, steps like the introduction of such a resolution, are unhelpful and put us further away from a negotiated two-state solution," he said, adding that Washington was working with partners at the UN in New York on "next steps."
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved plans to build new homes in Judea and Samaria in response to deadly terror attacks perpetrated by Palestinians in Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel would legalize nine settlement outposts and convene a special planning committee to approve additional settlement construction.
Israeli officials stressed that although Washington and Jerusalem have long disagreed over settlements, their alliance remains strong.
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