The State Department has registered its disapproval of Israel extending a security fence into a large West Bank settlement near Jerusalem and called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from several West Bank towns.
Even as the Israeli pullout from Gaza and four West Bank settlements was nearing completion, the State Department on Wednesday made it clear it would not delay its drive for Israel to deliver more territory for a prospective Palestinian state.
"We would like the Sharm el-Sheik undestandings fully implemented," said David Welch, the head of the department's Near East bureau, who has made six trips to the region since he took over the post in March.
The agreement was reached in February by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel said it would withdraw from five towns and remove major roadblocks while Abbas promised to strenthen security.
The more touchy issue of extending a security fence around the Maaleh Adumim settlement, which is actually a city with 30,000 Jewish residents, evoked Palestinian accusations of a land grab.
Israel intends to retain Maaleh as part of any peace accord with the Palestinians, and President George W Bush in 2004 gave his support, although he qualified it during an Abbas visit in 2005 by saying Israel's retention of Maaleh Adumim required Palestinian approval.
Asked at a news conference about Israel's extension of the security barrier, which is designed to fence out terrorists, Welch said, "The Israeli government is aware of our concerns about settlement activity."
