US Congressman: Iran is Threat, Not Israeli Settlements
By VOA News
06 August 2009
U.S. Republican Congressman Eric Cantor says Washington should be focusing on the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran instead of pressuring Israel over Jewish settlements.
Cantor is in Israel this week leading a delegation of 25 Republican members of the U.S. Congress. He serves as the House minority whip, and is the only Jewish Republican in Congress.
Cantor said Iran is the primary obstacle to Middle East peace because it poses a threat to both Israel and the United States if it develops nuclear weapons. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The United States and Israel have been locked in a dispute about Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported Thursday that the U.S. has asked Israel to commit to a one-year freeze of West Bank settlements.
The report says U.S. envoy George Mitchell raised the proposal last week during talks with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that Israel's commitment would facilitate Arab concessions in the peace process.
Israel has said it must continue settlement construction to allow for "natural growth."
Democrats in Congress are expected to travel to Israel next week.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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