Whose land? State Dep’t describes Bab al-Shams as ‘settlement’

QUESTION: On the same topic, in the last – over the weekend, the Israelis forcibly moved Palestinians who had tried to reclaim an area taken from them for a settlement in the E1 area in Bab al-Shams. Do you have any comment on that?

MS. [Victoria] NULAND: We’ve obviously been aware of recent developments in E1. I will again take this opportunity to urge all sides, both sides, to refrain from unhelpful action, from unhelpful rhetoric, and to think seriously about the consequences of their actions. Every step taken should be designed to reduce tension, to prepare the way for getting back to the negotiating table.

QUESTION: Would that be the kind of nonviolent resistance that the Palestinians ought to pursue in fighting the occupation?

MS. NULAND: I’m not sure what you’re –

QUESTION: Doing – taking action like that, going to areas and pitching tents and staying up there and do temporary housing and staying on land without seeking – without resorting to violence, that would be the kind of action that the Palestinians ought to do in sort of undoing the occupation?

MS. NULAND: We oppose all unilateral action, Said, including settlement activities of any kind. They complicate efforts to resume direct bilateral talks. This includes in the E1 area. It’s just not helpful…

QUESTION: Toria –

QUESTION: Can I just go back to the –

MS. NULAND: Yeah.

QUESTION: It’s not a settlement question, per se, but do you have any comment on the situation of these Palestinian villages in South Hebron Hills?

MS. NULAND: I don’t. Let me look into that one, Matt.

QUESTION: And they’re being forcibly relocated because they’re apparently inside an Israeli military firing zone.

MS. NULAND: I don’t have any information on that one. If we have anything to say, I’ll share it with you tomorrow.