Israel sticks to its guns over settlement boost
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
JERUSALEM, Sept 7(AFP): -Israel Sunday stuck to plans to boost settlement construction before considering a Washington-demanded lull, despite widespread criticism that the move risks endangering a revival of peace talks.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak will within 48 hours announce the go-ahead for the construction of 450 to 500 housing units in Jewish settlements within the occupied West Bank, the defence ministry said late Sunday.
"Mr. Barak will within 48 hours give his approval for the construction of 450 to 500 housing units in the larger Israeli settlements in the (West Bank)," a ministry spokeswoman told the news agency.
Construction within the settlements requires the approval of the defence ministry.
Earlier Sunday, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz told public radio that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will announce in the coming days the construction of several hundred additional homes" in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu did not address the issue of settlements at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, but on Friday a senior official said Netanyahu would approve a burst of settlement building in the West Bank before considering a moratorium sought by the United States.
That announcement, coming just days ahead of another visit to the region by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, has been widely criticised by Israel's main ally Washington, the Europeans and the Palestinians.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak will within 48 hours announce the go-ahead for the construction of 450 to 500 housing units in Jewish settlements within the occupied West Bank, the defence ministry said late Sunday.
"Mr. Barak will within 48 hours give his approval for the construction of 450 to 500 housing units in the larger Israeli settlements in the (West Bank)," a ministry spokeswoman told the news agency.
Construction within the settlements requires the approval of the defence ministry.
Earlier Sunday, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz told public radio that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will announce in the coming days the construction of several hundred additional homes" in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu did not address the issue of settlements at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, but on Friday a senior official said Netanyahu would approve a burst of settlement building in the West Bank before considering a moratorium sought by the United States.
That announcement, coming just days ahead of another visit to the region by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, has been widely criticised by Israel's main ally Washington, the Europeans and the Palestinians.