Ali
04-06-2005, 09:18 AM
Israeli Official Acknowledges U.S. Rift (http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=645644&page=1)
JERUSALEM Apr 6, 2005 — Israel has the right to strengthen Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Wednesday, a day after President Bush affirmed support for a peace plan that calls for a construction freeze in settlements.
Justice Minister Tsipi Livni acknowledged there are serious differences between Israel and the United States over Jewish settlement expansion.
The issue of expansion was raised after Israeli officials last month confirmed plans to build 3,650 homes in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.
In the West Bank, four Palestinians were wounded by fire from private Israeli security guards protecting a crew building Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank. Palestinian witnesses said the four were farmers on their way to their fields. The Defense Ministry said the four had attacked the crew, and that the guards' lives were in danger.
Livni told Army Radio there is agreement between Israel and the United States on continued construction within the built-up areas of the settlements.
"It seems that the debate is more over whether Israel can expand the perimeters of these communities, and certainly from an American viewpoint, as well, Israel can build within them," she said. "There apparently will be disputes with the Americans over this."
Livni said that despite such differences, Israel should still be able to "strengthen" settlements.
Last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Israel's plan to expand Maaleh Adumim was "at odds with American policy" and could threaten peace with the Palestinians.
An Israeli defense official recently acknowledged that the expansion plan was liable to be bogged down for years by legal challenges.
Livni said she does not expect sparks at the Bush-Sharon meeting over Maaleh Adumim because the U.S. president understands the significance of the Gaza pullout.
The Gaza plan has touched off fierce opposition within Israel. But having failed to block it through legislation, some settlers are now worrying that if they don't negotiate with the government now, they will have little say in their fate.
A meeting between settlers and Sharon on Tuesday the first in months would relocate many of the settlers in Israeli communities along the Mediterranean coast, about 12 miles north of the Gaza Strip.
The plan would require overhauling the government's earlier compensation program, which allocated about $230 million to be divided among settlers, a spokesman for the government's withdrawal agency said. Some government officials have said the overall cost of the pullout could reach $1 billion.
The new plan faces several obstacles, including the potential opposition of residents near the planned communities.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Israel would ask the United States for money to help with the withdrawal. Rice said Tuesday that she was not ready to commit the United States to foot part of the bill. Y'all ready to give even more money to Israel?
JERUSALEM Apr 6, 2005 — Israel has the right to strengthen Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Wednesday, a day after President Bush affirmed support for a peace plan that calls for a construction freeze in settlements.
Justice Minister Tsipi Livni acknowledged there are serious differences between Israel and the United States over Jewish settlement expansion.
The issue of expansion was raised after Israeli officials last month confirmed plans to build 3,650 homes in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.
In the West Bank, four Palestinians were wounded by fire from private Israeli security guards protecting a crew building Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank. Palestinian witnesses said the four were farmers on their way to their fields. The Defense Ministry said the four had attacked the crew, and that the guards' lives were in danger.
Livni told Army Radio there is agreement between Israel and the United States on continued construction within the built-up areas of the settlements.
"It seems that the debate is more over whether Israel can expand the perimeters of these communities, and certainly from an American viewpoint, as well, Israel can build within them," she said. "There apparently will be disputes with the Americans over this."
Livni said that despite such differences, Israel should still be able to "strengthen" settlements.
Last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Israel's plan to expand Maaleh Adumim was "at odds with American policy" and could threaten peace with the Palestinians.
An Israeli defense official recently acknowledged that the expansion plan was liable to be bogged down for years by legal challenges.
Livni said she does not expect sparks at the Bush-Sharon meeting over Maaleh Adumim because the U.S. president understands the significance of the Gaza pullout.
The Gaza plan has touched off fierce opposition within Israel. But having failed to block it through legislation, some settlers are now worrying that if they don't negotiate with the government now, they will have little say in their fate.
A meeting between settlers and Sharon on Tuesday the first in months would relocate many of the settlers in Israeli communities along the Mediterranean coast, about 12 miles north of the Gaza Strip.
The plan would require overhauling the government's earlier compensation program, which allocated about $230 million to be divided among settlers, a spokesman for the government's withdrawal agency said. Some government officials have said the overall cost of the pullout could reach $1 billion.
The new plan faces several obstacles, including the potential opposition of residents near the planned communities.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Israel would ask the United States for money to help with the withdrawal. Rice said Tuesday that she was not ready to commit the United States to foot part of the bill. Y'all ready to give even more money to Israel?