Powell: US has ''concerns'' about Israel's settlement activities

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday the United States has "concerns" about settlement activities after Israeli plans to build more than 600 new homes in West Bank settlements were disclosed. "We also have concerns about continuing settlement activity on the part of the Israelis," Powell said. 

Israel has recently issued tenders for the 600 new housing units in the West Bank. These tenders drew criticism from the Palestinian side. "This is evidence that the road map has been fully assassinated by an Israeli policy of settlement expansion, to which the United States is a witness," said Palestinian cabinet member Yasser Abed Rabbo.