According to Israeli sources, National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, a former top military official and one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest aides, has conceded that settlements are a major issue in Israel’s struggling international standing, and that it is “causing Israel to lose support even among its friends in the West.”

The statement was made in closed-door discussions with other top officials, in which he was said to be very concerned with Israel’s falling stand overseas, reportedly telling others it is “impossible to explain this matter” to other countries.

The report was immediately followed by an official statement from the Prime Minister’s office that there would be “no change” in the Israeli government’s position on settlement expansions.

There was also speculation that President Obama’s March visit was going to lead to a settlement freeze, though officials say that this isn’t even under consideration and that expansion will continue without any limits.

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