[Mb-civic] CBC News - JEWISH SETTLEMENT EXPANDING WEEKS BEFORE PULLOUT

Thu Aug 4 16:11:59 PDT 2005

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JEWISH SETTLEMENT EXPANDING WEEKS BEFORE PULLOUT
WebPosted Thu Aug  4 11:30:10 2005

---Israel will expand one of its West Bank settlements just weeks before
the planned pullout from several smaller outposts, a move that has
enraged some Palestinians.

Up to 72 housing units will be built in the Beitar Illits settlement near
Jerusalem. The settlement is already home to 20,000 people.

According to Israeli authorities, plans have long been in place to expand
current settlements. So far this year, the Housing Ministry has issued
tenders to build 235 housing units, and has revived a plan to build 3,650
units in Maaleh Adumim, Israel's largest settlement, just outside
Jerusalem.

Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Samir Huleileh warned new construction
could hurt any chances for negotiations of peace. The Gaza pullout is
seen as a way to jump-start negotiations on the "road map" to Middle
East peace.

 INDEPTH: Israeli settlements

"The decision affirms that [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon's step
in withdrawing from Gaza doesn't mean coming back to the negotiating
table and implementing the 'road map,'" Huleileh said. "On the contrary,
his strategy is to consolidate settlement construction."

Tensions have been building ahead of the Aug. 17 deadline for the Gaza
and West Bank pullout. Up to 9,000 people will be uprooted from their
homes in 25 settlements, most of them in Gaza. The Israeli government has
said settlers refusing to leave will be forcibly removed.

 FROM JULY 18, 2005: Israeli protesters hold pro-settlement rally despite
 police crackdown

Many Jewish settler groups and their allies oppose the withdrawal,
despite polls showing support by a slim majority of Israeli citizens.

Some settlers, hoping to avoid being branded violent extremists, have
voluntarily begun surrendering weapons issued by the government for
defence against Palestinian militants. The effort did not affect
privately held weapons.

 RELATED STORY: Israeli settler kills 4 in bus shooting

Residents from two settlements, Gan Or and Netzer Hazani, were handing
back M-16 rifles and emptying ammunition from their pouches on Wednesday
and Thursday.

Meanwhile, up to 10,000 Palestinians rallied at the parliament building
in Gaza City to celebrate the upcoming withdrawal.

People hoisted Palestinian flags and danced in the streets in a festival
sponsored by a special committee created by the Palestinian Authority
government.

"After 38 years of ugly occupation, they are leaving and they will never
come back," Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told the crowd.

"The world is watching us to see how we are going to behave," he said.
"We promise to convey a civilized image for our people."