FT.com / Middle East & Africa / Arab Israel conflict - Israel�s Jerusalem plan angers Palestinians: "Israel plans to build 3,500 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to cement its hold on Jerusalem, government sources says, drawing Palestinian warnings that peace efforts were at risk."
Israel's in-your-face decision to build 3,500 new homes in east of Jerusalem poses a challenge to the Bush administration. Will it simply remind both sides that it reminds them of the need to freeze settlement construction, as it did yesterday in the limpest terms possible, or will Bush get out front and show us that he is serious. My bet is that you should not hold your breath.
Boston Globe coverage also outlines the Israeli case and the Palestinian reaction.
Here is the State department's reaction:
The US State Department said Monday Israel must live up to its part of the “roadmap” and stop settlement activity in the West Bank.
Although department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli did not directly comment on reports Israel will build an additional 3,500 settler homes east of Jerusalem, he said the United States urges both Israel and the Palestinians to live up to their commitments to the “roadmap.”
“The roadmap calls for an end to settlement activity, and action against terrorist infrastructure,” he said. “Those are important commitments that both sides have made, and that we look forward to both sides following through on.”
He said Washington would look into the reports of the new settlements, adding it's “something we're regularly engaged with the government of Israel on.”
Waiting for Bush...
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