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Israel approves settlement growth | Israel approves settlement growth |
(30 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has approved a plan to build up to 750 new homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "It seems to me the Israelis are determined to put a stick in the wheel of negotiations," he said. |
"It will undermine the US effort to revive the negotiations." | "It will undermine the US effort to revive the negotiations." |
Mr Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev said it was not a new decision. | |
"This decision predates this government," he said. | |
"We have approved it. It is consistent with our policy of building within the large settlement blocs, which will remain in Israel in any final-status agreement," he added. | |
Israel Radio said the decision to restart the development was pushed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which had threatened to quit the government coalition unless the construction was approved. | Israel Radio said the decision to restart the development was pushed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which had threatened to quit the government coalition unless the construction was approved. |
The decision comes three days after a Palestinian gunman opened fire in the library of a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem, killing eight young people. | The decision comes three days after a Palestinian gunman opened fire in the library of a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem, killing eight young people. |
The college was closely linked to the settler movement. | The college was closely linked to the settler movement. |