NEW YORK - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan criticized US President George Bush Wednesday for "ignoring" the concerns of the Palestinians by supporting Israel's right to some West Bank settlements. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general reiterated his position that unresolved issues in a final Middle East peace deal "should be determined in negotiations between the parties, based on relevant Security Council resolutions". "He strongly believes that they (Israelis and Palestinians) should refrain from taking any steps that would prejudice or pre-empt the outcome of such talks," Dujarric added. The comments came after Bush took a shift in Middle East policy by endorsing Israel's right to hold onto some major settlements in the West Bank as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians. Bush made the announcement at the end of a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.