Monday 8 March 2010

Israel anounces settlement expansion on eve of peace talks

RAMALLAH // Israel yesterday announced plans for a controversial settlement expansion just a day after a divided PLO Central Committee reluctantly agreed to endorse US-sponsored proximity talks.

The plans for 112 apartments in the ultra-Orthodox Beitar Illit settlement in the Bethlehem area were announced as an exception to the partial settlement construction freeze that Israel agreed to in November under US pressure.

It is unlikely to play well with US administration officials, as the announcement coincides with what is supposed to be the finalisation of preparations for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians and on the morning of the visit of Joe Biden, the US vice president.

In an interview published yesterday in Yedioth Ahronot, an Israeli daily, Mr Biden said the partial settlement construction freeze had not come through agreement with the United States or the Palestinians and that it was “not everything that we wanted”.


for more...http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100309/FOREIGN/703089835/1185/enewsletter

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eh ...
Is this supposed to be a joke on Israeli's behalf? D:

Dave said...

A provocative act on their behalf

Dubai Jazz said...

Israel continues the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. While peace process is just that, a process.

In other news, Rupert Murdoch is in town..........

Emiratesque said...

In a related story..

Biden is a proud zionist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAZmO80dLfE

BuJ said...

Typical Israeli action, and more typical with a Democratic hit-team in the white house.

DJ it's great to see u here... sh7aalak ya bash mohandes?

El Shahlab.. sad to read that...but not surprised the slightest.

rosh said...

Biden, has little charisma and he is hardly taken seriously. Karl Rove can snack him for afternoon tea. The Israelis know that. Incredibly arrogant / provocative to the say the least.