Israel expands West Bank settlements (The Guardian)

[IndianaGreen]

Israel expands West Bank settlements

Aerial photos reveal extent of land grab, say peace groups

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Tuesday July 27, 2004
The Guardian

Months after Ariel Sharon announced his dramatic plan to pull Jewish settlers out of Gaza, portraying it as a sacrifice for peace, the government is grabbing more land for West Bank settlements.

Israeli peace groups and Palestinian officials say thousands of homes are under construction in the main settlements, in addition to an expansion of Jewish outposts that are illegal under Israeli law. Mr Sharon has promised the US he will dismantle the outposts, which are usually clusters of containers or trailer homes serviced by government-built roads, but has failed to do so.

One Israeli group, Settlement Watch, says in the three months to May, West Bank settlements expanded by 26 hectares (65 acres).The government has approved construction of thousands more homes in the three main settlement blocs on the West Bank, encouraged by an apparent endorsement by George Bush for their eventual annexation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1269880,00.html

[Djinn]

1. why do I get the feeling that this is part of the new myth of generosity

People swallowed the "generous offer at Camp David" garbage and I can see in ten years time people waffling on about the "Israeli withdrawal" from Gaza - ignoring the fact that even the rhetoric admits will leave Gaza as a large open air prison, no rights over air space, immigration, ports etc - but in practice is nothing more than smoke and mirrors to obfuscate the growing settlements in the WB which are every bit as illegal as those in Gaza have always been.

[IA_Seth]

2. Here ya go...

Take this from my left hand....

So I can smack ya with my right.

[Matilda]

3. But - they're building a wall to keep Palestinians away from Israelis.

So why are the Israelis moving on to the Palestinian side of the
wall?

Am I missing something here?