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Last update - 00:54 17/02/2009
West Bank settlement gets green light for major expansion
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: settlements, Israel News 

Some 1,700 dunams of land in the northern part of Efrat were declared state land last week, paving the way for the West Bank settlement to start the process of seeking government approval to build there.

The Civil Administration issued the declaration after rejecting eight appeals by Palestinians against the move. A ninth appeal was accepted, and the land covered by this appeal was consequently removed from Efrat's jurisdiction.

However, construction is still a long way off. First, the Civil Administration must formally allocate the land to the Housing Ministry, which, under new rules adopted by Ehud Olmert's government, cannot be done without approval from both the prime minister and defense minister.
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Then the Housing Ministry must give Efrat's local council a permit to start the usually long planning process, which involves securing permits from various agencies. Only then can the work of building some 2,500 housing units in the Givat Ha'eytam neighborhood begin.

Since the outcome of the elections makes it likely that the next government will lean more to the right than the current one, Efrat plans to wait until the new government takes office before submitting its request.

Efrat, with around 9,000 residents, is the largest settlement in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, and Givat Ha'eytam is the last unbuilt hill of the seven within the town's jurisdiction. Despite being the hill nearest Jerusalem, Ha'eytam lies outside the planned route of the separation fence, which has yet to be built in this area.

Gush Etzion is one of the settlement blocs that all Israeli governments have said they want to retain under any final-status agreement with the Palestinians.

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      1.   CAN WE JUST STOP STEALING LAND 01:58  |  Joey 16/02/09
      2.   Politics as usual 02:08  |  American 16/02/09
      3.   Big deal its Gush Etzion 02:12  |  David G 16/02/09
      4.   I honestly dont care...1 state solution is better anyways 02:13  |  MOE 16/02/09
      5.   Route change coming in 3..2..1.. 02:20  |  Mike 16/02/09
      6.   adding to Efrat 05:20  |  Rita Cohn 16/02/09
      7.   Are there no more dunams left in Israel 05:29  |  Another American 16/02/09
      8.   #3 Big deal it`s also illegal 05:44  |  Johnboy 16/02/09
      9.   No logic = no success. 05:48  |  Daniel 16/02/09
      10.   Yes, I noticed that too Mike. 05:49  |  Johnboy 16/02/09
      11.   FANTASTIC! 05:52  |  Safta 16/02/09
      12.   1 state solution 06:05  |  .. 16/02/09
      13.   Disagree with MOE 06:07  |  Omar 16/02/09
      14.   Disgraceful 06:10  |  Faramarz 16/02/09
      15.   west bank settlement gets green light 06:30  |  Salaam/Shalom 16/02/09
      16.   This move is flaunting the appeals of Obama in his face... 06:38  |  Esther 16/02/09
      17.   Let`s make Lieberman 06:46  |  rm 16/02/09
      18.   success 06:58  |  alex 16/02/09
      19.   Land Thieves wil be always land thieves... 07:03  |  Niva dos Santos 16/02/09
      20.   SICK 07:17  |  Michael 16/02/09
      21.   West Bank 08:04  |  Ed 16/02/09
      22.   Accelerating to one state 08:21  |  Ben 16/02/09
      23.   Outstanding! 08:23  |  Husam 16/02/09
      24.   This will ultimately end the Jewish state 08:24  |  David 16/02/09
      25.   # 4 Moe, focus on the fulfillment of the law 08:25  |  Dutch 16/02/09
      26.   Time for the US, EU amd UN to get tough with Israel 08:34  |  Hugh G. Sanctions 16/02/09
      27.   Time to BOYCOTT 08:41  |  Gili 16/02/09
      28.   So Dutch, which "law" are you referring to? 08:57  |  Joe Sittizen 16/02/09
      29.   Peace 09:15  |  Apa 16/02/09
      30.   DAVID Land swaps have always been part of the deal 09:21  |  PETER SM 16/02/09
      31.   Salaam/Shalom actually 09:28  |  Gil 16/02/09
      32.   Salaam/Shalom actually 09:29  |  Gil 16/02/09
      33.   Pushing and probing by Israel 09:36  |  Clickfool 16/02/09
      34.   TO #1 09:40  |  AZF 16/02/09
      35.   Settlement expansion 10:09  |  Cate 16/02/09
      36.   Here you go again Joe 10:12  |  peace loving 16/02/09
      37.   To no.15 - Michael 10:16  |  claire 16/02/09
      38.   #25 and 26 10:16  |  Harald 16/02/09
      39.   unthinkable chuzpa 10:26  |  peter 16/02/09
      40.   Magoo Israel 10:42  |  Clickfool 16/02/09
      41.   to 25 & 26 10:50  |  San 16/02/09
      42.   HUGH G they know what you pretend not to know 10:58  |  PETER SM 16/02/09
      43.   Let it grow, let it grow, let it blossom, let it flow...... 11:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/02/09
      44.   Clickfool care bears history book, honey, all honey around 11:01  |  Israeli citizen 16/02/09
      45.   What is the meaning of being a settler? 11:06  |  Jean Van Daem 16/02/09
      46.   Shalom Esther, I`m not concerned about Obama. 11:09  |  Tzfonit 16/02/09
      47.   #23! 11:20  |  J 16/02/09
      48.   Harald (#32) As much as it is offensive 11:21  |  Gil 16/02/09
      49.   Harald (#32) As much as it is offensive 11:48  |  Gil 16/02/09
      50.   so? 11:29  |  Barcuh Gold 16/02/09
      51.   NO, BUT ABRAHAM 11:31  |  Salaam/Shalom 16/02/09
      52.   SAN (#39) Sister from Father and not from Mother 11:51  |  Gil 16/02/09
      53.   SAN (#39) Sister from Father and not from Mother 11:52  |  Gil 16/02/09
      54.   For Salaam/Shalom # 50 11:52  |  Clickfool 16/02/09
      55.   TO JOEY #1 11:54  |  LARS 16/02/09
      56.   Gush Etzion History 11:56  |  Dr Eric 16/02/09
      57.   Peter #29... land-swap...?! 11:59  |  Esther 16/02/09
      58.   Coveting thy neighbours goods 11:59  |  Brendan Holleran 16/02/09
      59.   All of the WB is Israeli territory!! 12:01  |  Lisa 16/02/09
      60.   I just can`t believe it! I must have been WRONG all the time. 12:14  |  S 16/02/09
      61.   Israeli sickness continues 12:17  |  Ronnie Green 16/02/09
      62.   100,000`s of Pals coming to US 12:20  |  Petra 16/02/09
      63.   SICK Michael SO is allowing hundreds of thousands of Pals into US 12:23  |  petra 16/02/09
      64.   Re: Ronnie Green 12:40  |  Freddy 16/02/09
      65.   Lisa and the West Bank 12:43  |  Ardi 16/02/09
      66.   Salaam/Shalom (#50) You are Right 12:51  |  Gil 16/02/09
      67.   ESTHER As I understand it only the major population blocks stay 12:55  |  PETER SM 16/02/09
      68.   There are settlements and there are settlements 13:06  |  Chris 16/02/09
      69.   changed my mind 13:21  |  As`ad the ANGRY ARAB 16/02/09
      70.   1 state solution is near 13:24  |  Northern 16/02/09
      71.   Talmud against land-grab 13:28  |  Amir 16/02/09
      72.   Brendan Holleran, pray tell me... 13:44  |  Tzfonit 16/02/09
      73.   The illegal settlements need to be demomlished, not expanded 13:45  |  Jens 16/02/09
      74.   As I recall 13:53  |  Jackie 16/02/09
      75.   AMIR there is NO such thing as Kessubos 111A 14:08  |  PETER SM 16/02/09
      76.   Salaam/Shalom can be achieved 14:09  |  Salaam or Shalom 16/02/09
      77.   Brendan Holleran # 58 Lands Of The Arabs 14:15  |  Jeff Northridge 16/02/09
      78.   #73 14:21  |  J 16/02/09
      79.   JENS do come back again when you know what you are talking about 14:22  |  PETER SM 16/02/09
      80.   Rehab for recidivist junkie governments 14:25  |  sh 16/02/09
      81.   Palestinians aren`t allowed to build houses 14:26  |  AT 16/02/09
      82.   #73 Jackie has less than total recall. 14:43  |  Johnboy 16/02/09
      83.   #76 I can`t let this one slide past either, Jeff 15:18  |  Johnboy 16/02/09
      84.   Jens # 72 Not All Settlements Are Illegal 15:19  |  Jeff Northridge 16/02/09
      85.   to Joe Sittizen #28 - 2nd try 15:20  |  zeev 16/02/09
      86.   #59 Lisa **And If I may, I agree with every word.. 15:30  |  KATHY 16/02/09
      87.   #16 (FIRST TRY) Esther re:Obama 15:36  |  KATHY 16/02/09
      88.   To Swiss Dino # 43). Ever notice... 15:36  |  flyingdoc57 16/02/09
      89.   # 88 flyingdoc57, I`m afraid you are confounding the term.... 16:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/02/09
      90.   To Zeev 16:25  |  Amir 16/02/09
      91.   Johnboy # 83 And By The Same Token,... 17:13  |  Jeff Northridge 16/02/09
      92.   Fatah and Hamas call Tel Aviv a settlement 17:14  |  Zion 16/02/09
      93.   This land is EMPTY. Thank God it`s being settled 17:21  |  IW 16/02/09
      94.   So if the Arabs had US backing, we would let them take Israel? 17:35  |  Hiram 16/02/09
      95.   Northridge and those interested in the truth try the following 17:45  |  Labhras 16/02/09
      96.   Johnboy #8 yes it is a big deal 17:46  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      97.   are you for real? check this link out. 17:46  |  ronnie 16/02/09
      98.   Great news. Gush Etzion ethnically cleansed of Jews in 1948... 17:47  |  bat yam 16/02/09
      99.   #25 Dutch whose Law? Your`s? 17:48  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      100.   One-State Solution 17:50  |  Faisal 16/02/09
      101.   there is a reason Johnboy #83 18:04  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      102.   amazing how they cry for land22 Arab countries, only one Israel 18:19  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      103.   The three oaths för PETER SM to read 18:39  |  Amir 16/02/09
      104.   Great news. Gush Etzion ethnic cleansing of Jews by Arabs in 1948 18:39  |  bat yam 16/02/09
      105.   determining where the border is 18:43  |  rm 16/02/09
      106.   God bless the new settlement 18:44  |  George Duraisingh 16/02/09
      107.   To Lisa 18:45  |  Sam Soul 16/02/09
      108.   To Freddy 18:50  |  Sam Soul 16/02/09
      109.   EFRAT IS ISRAEL 19:00  |  Daniel 16/02/09
      110.   #45 what is the meaning of "SETTLERS" 19:04  |  jim the mechanic 16/02/09
      111.   west bank 19:12  |  azad 16/02/09
      112.   Relevance 19:17  |  Yaakov Stern 16/02/09
      113.   Jeff Northridge #84 `ALL` settlements illegal 19:28  |  Roo 16/02/09
      114.   # 80 About rehab recidivist junkies?? 19:39  |  Jasmine 16/02/09
      115.   The Israeli occupants show there true faces.. 19:40  |  Erik 16/02/09
      116.   #81 Palestinians are not allowed to by build houses.. 19:43  |  Jasmine 16/02/09
      117.   Now it`s clear: Israel doesn`t want peace 19:47  |  Saenger 16/02/09
      118.   DONT YOU GET IT? 19:51  |  rachel 16/02/09
      119.   as an american... 19:51  |  Allen 16/02/09
      120.   Question: Jewish Immigration at all time LOW!?! 19:53  |  fulusteen 16/02/09
      121.   For #40 Clickfool - Apparent Lack Of An End Game 19:55  |  chet 16/02/09
      122.   Israel owns the USA- Israeli comments? 20:02  |  Chris 16/02/09
      123.   Strange semantics 20:11  |  Curious 16/02/09
      124.   Clickfool (#35) How far has your Government gone? 20:24  |  Gil 16/02/09
      125.   # 89 (FIRST TRY) The Not Nutreal Swiss 20:25  |  Jasmine 16/02/09
      126.   #92 The Relevance of Yaakov Stern...A very good analysis thanks 20:30  |  Kathy 16/02/09
      127.   KATHY re. Settlements 20:34  |  The Teacher/Instruct 16/02/09
      128.   What Israel wants 23:18  |  Bill 16/02/09
      129.   There we GO AGAIN more nails in the coffin of 2 STATES Sol. 20:38  |  Abigail. 16/02/09
      130.   Another nail in the coffin of peace 20:40  |  Janice 16/02/09
      131.   west bank 20:42  |  Gregori 16/02/09
      132.   Latest land grab 20:42  |  American Citizen2 16/02/09
      133.   Why fooling the world communities. 20:42  |  Gabriel 16/02/09
      134.   Stealing land 20:43  |  Chris k 16/02/09
      135.   The Peace Process is definitely DEAD, now. 20:47  |  Haroun 16/02/09
      136.   Jews! must look at their history! 20:49  |  Fishermen 16/02/09
      137.   Answer 20:55  |  Miriam 16/02/09
      138.   haaretz why do you post negatives and not positives? 20:58  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      139.   #103 Questions,questions..Truth is truth.. 21:01  |  Jasmine 16/02/09
      140.   Swiss (Dino) your neutrality 21:27  |  David Israel 16/02/09
      141.   Clickfool (#35) How far has your Government gone? 21:37  |  Gil 16/02/09
      142.   No, Daniel, Not Absurd #92 21:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/02/09
      143.   Efrat 21:41  |  Joshua 16/02/09
      144.   For #105 Chris - Jewish Spokesperson Re US Domination 21:48  |  chet 16/02/09
      145.   #113 Yaakov Sullivan, what about Jews kicked out of Arab Lands th 22:01  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      146.   West Bank Settlement Expansion 22:04  |  Marc Kaplan 16/02/09
      147.   to Jean Van Daem #45 22:19  |  zeev 16/02/09
      148.   Roo # 96 The Latest Quartet Policy 22:21  |  Jeff Northridge 16/02/09
      149.   Every Qassam, a new settlement 22:25  |  Darlene Wallach 16/02/09
      150.   #135 Big Sur sorry correction 22:26  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      151.   #135 Big Sur sorry correction 2nd try 22:26  |  Big Sur 16/02/09
      152.   "declared state land" !! 22:29  |  Silvienne 16/02/09
      153.   #136 Jasmine 22:33  |  janet 16/02/09
      154.   # 101 Here is the only reason that counts Big Sur 23:29  |  Labhras 16/02/09
      155.   #139, Jasmine... 23:31  |  Silvienne 16/02/09
      156.   Off to a bad start 00:03  |  Morris Valentine 17/02/09
      157.   Jeff Northridge #148 Faulty understanding 00:04  |  Roo 17/02/09
      158.   Expansion of squatting settlement 01:45  |  Hom 17/02/09
      159.   Haaretz Moderator 01:46  |  Daybreak 17/02/09
      160.   #156 MV Tough then isn`t it? 01:47  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      161.   west Bank Settlements 01:48  |  Hank Curtis 17/02/09
      162.   #106 George Duraisingh...And G_D bless you with thanks 01:51  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      163.   #136 Fishernan fishing in murky waters.. 01:54  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      164.   U.S. Political Views Changing 01:55  |  Adam 17/02/09
      165.   BOTH NIG SUR ARE FAKES LOOKS LIKE.. 01:57  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      166.   Daniel 02:03  |  a slight correction 17/02/09
      167.   #134Chris k You are wrong....One cannot steal one`s land.. 02:20  |  Whisky 17/02/09
      168.   #122 Chris..Israel owns the USA-Israeli comments.Good heavens!! 02:31  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      169.   #118 rachel..DON`T YOU GET IT? I DO,BUT OTHERS DO NOT.. 02:42  |  Whiskey 17/02/09
      170.   Roo # 157 Bush`s Letter To Sharon (4/14/04) 02:57  |  Jeff Northridge 17/02/09
      171.   to Jasmine #139 03:01  |  zeev 17/02/09
      172.   Unbelievable, still building settlements 03:02  |  Fed up 17/02/09
      173.   Good luck Israel. Time waits for no one. 03:25  |  Akram Zekaria 17/02/09
      174.   Those who are worried about the Settlements ! 04:05  |  Akram Zekaria 17/02/09
      175.   Niva dos Santos...who owns the Promised Land? 05:28  |  Maria 17/02/09
      176.   DON`T GIVE AWAY GOD`S LAND 05:34  |  MARIA 17/02/09
      177.   MV #156 07:23  |  Esther 17/02/09
      178.   Give it a rest Silvienne. 07:32  |  Don 17/02/09
      179.   Labhras,but Israel IS adressing the issue with Arabs 07:49  |  Marthy 17/02/09
      180.   efrat 07:58  |  lois 17/02/09
      181.   Simply put - more justification to attack Israel!! 08:36  |  Joe 17/02/09
      182.   to Amir #90 (3rd try) 08:39  |  zeev 17/02/09
      183.   Arabs set the precedent, why complain? 08:41  |  Joe Sittizen 17/02/09
      184.   to Joshua #143 - so right (3rd try) 08:54  |  zeev 17/02/09
      185.   Morris Valentine #156 YES and no... 08:56  |  S 17/02/09
      186.   to Jasmine #139 (2nd try) 09:09  |  zeev 17/02/09
      187.   Take it all and give access 09:18  |  No Quarter 17/02/09
      188.   It is amazing how the quran proficies..... 09:23  |  abu mustafa 17/02/09
      189.   To # 120 Fulusteen 09:28  |  Amir 17/02/09
      190.   For Darlene Wallace # 149 09:29  |  Clickfool 17/02/09
      191.   to Joshua # 143 09:33  |  Amir 17/02/09
      192.   Ardi 09:41  |  No Quarter 17/02/09
      193.   Morris Valentine #156 YES and no...2nd try 09:50  |  S 17/02/09
      194.   Morris Valentine #156 10:22  |  S 17/02/09
      195.   Roo is wrong, as usual 10:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/02/09
      196.   The question is: 10:35  |  Esther 17/02/09
      197.   two thousands years ago? 11:23  |  Nina 17/02/09
      198.   CJK. Not credible `as usual` 11:38  |  Roo 17/02/09
      199.   to Amir #90 (4th try) 11:51  |  zeev 17/02/09
      200.   to Jasmine #139 (3rd try) 11:55  |  zeev 17/02/09
      201.   to Joshua #143 - so right (4th try) 11:58  |  zeev 17/02/09
      202.   #182 zeev -great stuff 14:15  |  Roo 17/02/09
      203.   #175 Cipora is another who wants to sound "reasonable" 14:16  |  Johnboy 17/02/09
      204.   WB Settlements 15:48  |  K.-H. Baehr 17/02/09
      205.   #204 You may want to reconsider your views, K.-H. Baehr 02:39  |  Johnboy 18/02/09
      206.   To S (#193, 194) 07:07  |  Morris Valentine 18/02/09
      207.   West Bank Settlement 11:49  |  Corey 18/02/09
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