What Obama did and didn't say

Settlements The United States has objected to the settlements since 1967, but its position has changed. The Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations stated that the settlements were illegal. Since the Reagan administration (1981), the U.S. has called the settlements "an obstacle to peace" without referring to their lawfulness. Former president George W. Bush agreed to Israeli construction in the large settlement blocs in exchange for Israel evacuating the settlers from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank, and accepting the "two-state solution."

Yesterday, Obama introduced a new term. He said the U.S. does not accept the legitimacy of "continued settlements" and would see construction as a violation of previous agreements and as undermining efforts for peace. Obama's envoys demanded a complete suspension of building.