U.S. 'extremely troubled' by Israeli move to lift ban return to West Bank settlements - State Dept

Washington is "extremely troubled" by a move by the Israeli parliament that paves the way for Jewish settlers to return to four West Bank settlements, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday.

Patel said the amendment of a 2005 law that ordered the settlements' evacuation was "particularly provocative and counterproductive" to efforts to restore calm in Israel and the West Bank ahead of the Ramadan, Passover and Easter holidays.