2,500 Israeli Settlements Approved By US: Israeli Newspaper

[cannonball996]

Despite consistent US efforts to convince Israel to freeze all settlement activities in the West Bank, in accordance with the 2003 Road Map, US officials nevertheless agreed to allow the construction of an additional 2,500 housing unites spanning across 700 buildings in a number of settlement outposts, according to the Tel Aviv-based Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv.

The Ma'ariv report, reported in English by Haaretz, quotes 'Western officials' who say the concession is pursuant to upholding already existing contracts--some of which have already begun work, which is nonrefundable. Ma'ariv quotes one official as saying, "we're talking about polishing off things that are basically done."

The report comes just as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and US Middle East envoy George Mitchell are negotiating the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, with a specific focus on settlements. Barak told Israel's Army Radio this week that 23 illegal outposts are set to be evacuated soon.

[AL P]

One of coworkers was just IM'ing me from Tel Aviv.

[Denny]

Rock on!!!

[cannonball996]

you know every US President for the last 30 years, republican and democrat, has told Israel to stop building settlements or we will cut you off, but they never do. instead Israel keeps building them, and each year they ask us for more money (US Tax payer money) money that pays for their socialized medicine.

this is a slap in the face to President Bushes plan, a plan that many people on both sides backed and still do. now it does say they are going to evacuate 23 of them, but how did 2500 units slip by our government?