[Mb-civic] Israel plans to expand settlement BBC

[Michael Butler]

 Israel plans to expand settlement
 It has emerged that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has given the
go-ahead for 600 new homes in the largest Jewish settlement in the West
Bank. 

 Mr Sharon and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz agreed the plan two months ago
but it has only now been made public.

 The new homes are to be built in Maale Adoumin, close to Jerusalem. It is
already home to 28,000 Jewish settlers.

 Israel has committed itself to freezing settlement activity under the
international "roadmap" peace plan.

 Under the terms of the stalled peace plan, the Palestinians are obliged to
crack down on militant attacks against Israel.

 All settlements in the West Bank and Gaza are considered illegal under
international law.

 'Incompatible with roadmap'

 The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says Palestinians fear that Israel's
plan to pull out of Gaza next year could mean Mr Sharon plans to bolster
Jewish settlements in the West Bank instead.

 ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS
 400,000 settlers in the West Bank and Gaza
 130 settlements authorised by Israeli governments
 About 100 unauthorised settlements, 60 built during Ariel Sharon's
government
 Israel spends about $500m on settlements annually - excluding security
 Sources:  Peace Now and Haaretz newspaper
 
 
 Our correspondent reports that US officials say the building plans appear
incompatible with the peace plan.

 A spokesman at the US embassy in Tel Aviv said Ambassador Dan Kurtzer would
examine the case as soon as he returned from a trip abroad.

 Israel plans to pull all its 7,000 settlers from Gaza and the troops that
protect them, while keeping control of Gaza's borders, coastline and
airspace. Four West Bank settlements are also to be evacuated.
 Story from BBC NEWS:
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/3527548.stm

 Published: 2004/08/02 11:44:12 GMT

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