.bmp)
.bmp)
JERUSALEM-Plans to expand a West Bank settlement by up to 2,500 homes drew Palestinian condemnation Monday and highlighted the challenges awaiting President Barack Obama, whose Mideast envoy is known for his opposition to settlement construction.Israel took a step toward the possible expansion of the Efrat settlement by taking control of a nearby West Bank hill of 423 acres. The rocky plot, lying deserted Monday, was recently designated state land, Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi confirmed, adding that the hill is part of a master plan that envisions the settlement growing from 9,000 to 30,000 residents.Israeli officials said any new construction would require several years more of planning and stages of approval.The outgoing government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said it reserves the right to keep building in large West Bank settlement blocs it wants to annex as part of a final peace deal with the Palestinians, but that it has restricted construction elsewhere. Efrat is in one of those blocs.The composition of Israel's next government is not clear yet, because last week's elections were inconclusive. However, right-wing parties are given a better chance to form a ruling coalition, with hard-line leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the helm.Netanyahu supports settlement expansion and has derided peace talks with the Palestinians as a waste of time, saying he would focus instead of trying to improve the Palestinian economy. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed Netanyahu's approach as a non-starter, and his aides said recently that peace talks can resume only after settlement construction is halted."We oppose settlement activity in principle and if the settlement activity doesn't stop, any meetings (with the Israelis) will be worthless," Abbas said Monday.Settlement expansion is likely to create friction not only with the Palestinians, but with Obama, whose Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, has long pushed for a settlement freeze.Still, settlements have grown steadily, including during the past year of U.S.-backed peace talks that ended without results....By AP
To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...
