And why deny with such force — as the administration did — the existence of previous understandings between the United States and Israel over limited settlement construction?
Israel is trying to reach common ground with the Americans and to revive what it insists were firm, if informal, understandings with the Bush administration allowing limited settlement growth.
Yes, Powell warned about the ecological and economic consequences of exploiting the West; yes, he called for limited settlement of Western lands, for, as he said, there is not sufficient water to irrigate the region.
Recently, Israelis and Palestinians have each pointed to their political constraints while being actively encouraged by this administration to agree to a limited settlement moratorium and indirect talks, respectively.
The announcement is, in some regards, a victory for the few state attorneys general who, over the course of several months, refused to sign off on a quick and limited settlement with the big banks.
In spite of the important geopolitical location along historic trading routes, Portuguese, Persian and Ottoman colonial influences have remained rather limited on settlements along the Gulf coast due to the harsh climatic conditions.
It was a potentially fatal misjudgment, which will leave Mr Cameron dangerously exposed when he tries to sell the limited "new settlement" discussed at the summit to the British public.
And in exchange for what, two months of a limited freeze on settlements in the West Bank?
The two leaders expressed hope that direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks — following the current "proximity talks" conducted by George Mitchell, the American envoy — would begin before Israel's limited moratorium on settlement construction is due to expire in September.
