Diplomat: U.S. firmly opposes all W. Bank, E. J'lem construction

[bemildred]

The United States clarified to Israel during U.S. President George Bush's visit this week that it disapproves of all building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank - including in the large settlement blocs, a senior Western diplomat said Tuesday.

The diplomat added that Israel and the U.S. differ on their interpretation of the letter President Bush sent to former prime minister Ariel Sharon in April, 2004.

"The letter refers to major population centers and not the settlement blocs, while stressing that everything must also be decided in the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians," the diplomat said. According to the diplomat, Bush is steadfast in his objection of building in West Bank settlements and East Jerusalem.

"The American government also opposes constuction due to the natural growth of the present settlers", he said. He added, however, that if progress is made on border issues it may help to resolve the settlement issue. "When the route of the permanent border becomes clearer, the locations where Israel can and cannot build will also be clearer."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/944647.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Then They Should Back That Statement, Sir

By deducting whatever the Israeli government spends on same from the various aids our government despatches there....

[bemildred]

2. Indeed Sir. I was taken by the clarity of the statement.

In a world permeated with nebulous mush, it is nice see it.

[The Magistrate]

3. Perhaps The Fellow Is New, Sir

And more used to a respectable trade....

[bemildred]

4. A very plausible idea, Sir. nt

[The Magistrate]

5. But To Resume Seriousness For A Moment, My Friend

Unless this 'clarification' of policy is followed up by some concrete action, it is merely pious noise.

Were it to be followed up by such action as suggested above, the result might be salutory and useful in the overall situation.

Certainly very few on the left who consider themselves supporters of Israel would have any problem with that course.

[LeftishBrit]

8. Agree

[azurnoir]

6. I have seen Jello described as "firm"

perhaps this is the type of firm that was meant.

[Scurrilous]

7. Israel building new homes in east Jerusalem settlement

<snip>

"Israel has begun constructing 66 new homes in an east Jerusalem settlement, according to an AFP correspondent who visited the area on Tuesday, in a move likely to anger Palestinians."

<snip>

"Infrastructure work for new homes is under way in Maaleh Hazeitim, in the Ras al-Amud area of east Jerusalem which Israel occupied and annexed in the 1967 war and which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

"We are building 66 new apartments in three buildings," said David Ben Hamo, the manager of the construction site where a cornerstone was laid in a ceremony on Sunday.

"We have all the necessary papers and authorisation for the construction work," he told AFP."

<snip>

"A similar project to build more than 300 homes in the Jewish neighbourhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem infuriated Palestinians when it was announced in early December, less than a week after the formal revival of peace talks."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j-jCJR2AqwaA6YKPmyzSXaT5xV0g

[Scurrilous]

9. PMO: Construction in East Jerusalem will continue

Olmert's office denies reports that construction in capital's eastern Jewish neighborhoods has been halted

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497030,00.html

<snip>

"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office denied on Monday reports that construction in East Jerusalem has been halted.

"We categorically deny these reports regarding the cessation of construction. No such decision has been made and the information provided on this matter is unfounded," Olmert's office said in a written statement.

The statement further said that it has been made clear to all international parties, including US President George W. Bush, that Israel has no intention of freezing construction projects in east Jerusalem.

Earlier Monday, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski slammed the government's reported intention to suspend construction in the capital's eastern Jewish neighborhoods.

"Israel must not become the first country in the world to turn its capital into an illegal outpost," Lupolianski said."