[Marxism] Israeli Govt Approves Expanding Illegal West Bank Settlement

[Jscotlive@xxxxxxx]

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has approved a plan to build up to 750 new 
homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The project was first signed 
off in 1999, but stopped two years later after Palestinian labourers refused to 
go on. 

Israel's housing minister said the construction at Givat Zeev would address 
"the demographic needs of Jerusalem". 

But the decision provoked an angry reaction from Palestinian leaders. 

For the Palestinians there are few issues as contentious as the building of 
Jewish settlements in the West Bank, says the BBC's Crispin Thorold in 
Jerusalem. 

Under the terms of the peace process settlement expansion is supposed to be 
frozen. 

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the latest decision raised doubts 
about Israel's commitment to peace talks. 

"It seems to me the Israelis are determined to put a stick in the wheel of 
negotiations," he said. 

    
Full:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7286264.stm


   
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