Israel announced plans yesterday for more than 500 new housing units in the West Bank, following an apparent US policy shift on Jewish settlements that has infuriated the Palestinians.
Also yesterday, Israeli officials said there would be a one-year delay in construction of a large section of its West Bank barrier, citing a Supreme Court ruling that chunks of the structure cause the Palestinians too much hardship.
The barrier and settlement construction are linked to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's "disengagement" plan to separate Israel from the Palestinians.
The plan includes a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip next year and completion of the separation barrier, while simultaneously beefing up large blocs of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Sharon says the moves will boost Israel's security and preserve its Jewish majority.
The US, which supports the Gaza pullout plan, has signaled recently that it will allow Israel to expand existing West Bank settlements, while remaining opposed to construction in undeveloped areas.
In the past, the US has objected to all settlement construction.
The Palestinians have said the shift threatens prospects for peace and demanded a clarification from Washington. The Palestinians object to all settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, where they hope to establish an independent state.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia yesterday accused Israel of escalating tensions.
"While it is talking about evacuating settlements in Gaza, it is expanding all settlements in the West Bank," Qureia said. "This will not bring about stability, nor will it bring peace."
Under the Israeli plan unveiled yesterday, the country could build more than 500 housing units in existing settlements -- in addition to 1,000 units announced last week.
The Israel Lands Authority plans to lease land to contractors who will build 300 units in the Jerusalem suburbs of Har Adar and Har Gilo next year, spokeswoman Ortal Tzabar said yesterday.
She noted that the projects still need Defense Ministry approval, which is expected.
The Defense Ministry has approved an additional 232 units in Adam and Emmanuel, settlements deeper inside the West Bank. But the Housing Ministry has decided not to go ahead with the projects for now, said Kobi Bleich, a ministry spokesman.
In a separate development, Defense Ministry official Danny Tirza, one of the planners of the separation barrier, told Israeli lawmakers that Israel will spend US$6.6 million rerouting a 60km stretch of the structure from the Jewish settlement of Elkana to Jerusalem.
In other developments, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat held a long-anticipated meeting with Mohammed Dahlan, a Gaza strongman who has emerged as an outspoken critic of Arafat.
The meeting, which Arafat repeatedly delayed, follows a wave of unrest linked to dissatisfaction with the Palestinian Authority.
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