Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei yesterday urged the United States to be tough on Israel on settlements. "The American administration cannot remain silent about the actions of the Israelis who are seeking to impose a new reality on the ground," Qorei said after a meeting at his offices in Ramallah with Consul General David Pearce, the United States' top diplomat for East Jerusalem. "It must take a clear position over the three settlements which Israel wants to annex," he added. Qorei was referring to the settlements of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Ariel which his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon has pledged will remain an integral part of Israel.The Bush administration is in theory opposed to any settlement growth as a violation of the US-backed road map plan which commits Israel to a complete freeze to all settlement activity. But in recent days the US position has been somewhat muddied by a flurry of statements in reaction to Israel's announced intention to build up Maale Adumim, the largest of all the settlements.