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Last update - 04:06 07/05/2009 Settlement expansion seeing biggest boost since 2003 By Amos Harel Tags: settlements, netanyahu, obama  West Bank construction has been accelerating for several months, putting Israel on a collision course with a U.S. administration taking a hard line on settlement expansion. A new outpost, new roads, and other building projects have raced ahead in and around the settlements, often without legal permits, producing the biggest construction drive since 2003, according to Dror Etkes of the Israeli advocacy group Yesh Din. That group monitors construction in the West Bank. The construction, which has sped up even more since Benjamin Netanyahu's government took office this spring, is to be a main issues in U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with Netanyahu at mid-month. Advertisement Vice President Joe Biden called on Israel on Tuesday to stop building in the settlements and to dismantle existing illegal outposts. However, left-wing groups monitoring events in the territories say the construction has accelerated in recent months, not halted. Examples include the following: Construction in outposts: Between Talmon and Nahliel, west of Ramallah, a stone house and another structure have been built without a permit, next to a vineyard set up by settlers a year and a half ago. The Israel Defense Forces' civil administration has recently issued an order to stop the project. Illegal construction has been carried out on Palestinian land at the outposts Mitzpeh Ahiya and Adei-Ad, north of Ramallah. A mobile home has been set in an outpost near Susia south of Hebron. An outpost that was vacated near Hebron has been reinstated. Construction east of the separation fence: New houses have been built in the Eli settlement, Rechelim, Ma'aleh Michmash and Kochav Hashahar (north and east of Ramallah). In addition, a neighborhood has been built in Na'ale, and there are at least 10 houses in Halamish and new houses in Talmon (all west of Ramallah). Construction west of the planned fence route: Land has been prepared for building in the Kedar settlement, and 30 houses have been built in Ma'aleh Shomron. There is also a new neighborhood in both the Elkana and Zofim settlements. Road construction and farmland: This has gone on near the Bracha settlement south of Nablus, near Tapuach, in the Eli and Shiloh area and in the Amona and Elazar settlements. The accelerated construction stems mainly from the reduced supervision of events in the territories in the last stages of the Olmert government, while Netanyahu's right-wing government, part of which supports the construction, hasn't begun to address the issue. The settlers also took advantage of the public and media attention's focus on Gaza during the IDF offensive in January to continue the settlements and outposts' expansion in the territories. Israel is officially committed to the promise made by former prime minister Ariel Sharon to the Bush administration to evacuate all illegal outposts built after March 2001. But evacuations have been carried out languidly and with long intervals. Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently reached an agreement with the settlers to evacuate the largest outpost, Migron, and transfer it to the nearby settlement Adam. But the agreement has yet to be implemented. The Mitchell Report of May 2001 and the Bush administration's road map of 2003 called on Israel to halt all construction in the settlements. This implies stopping construction for natural growth as well. Israel, however, has never stopped this kind of construction. Sharon's government reached a tacit agreement with the Bush administration to reduce construction east of the separation fence. Israel kept this promise until recently, when building resumed there as well, mostly without legal permits. The extensive and often illegal construction west of the fence and in the large settlements has been going on continuously. The authorities have not tried to stop it even in cases of illegal construction, says Etkes. The defense minister's bureau said Barak supports evacuating outposts not because of promises to the Americans but to maintain the rule of law. Every new outpost is evacuated immediately, Barak's aides said. The minister is not under the impression that the construction of illegal outposts and settlements has accelerated, they said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Theft in Gaza Elite IDF soldier confesses to stealing credit card from Gaza home during Gaza war. Raising the Bar Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli voted 3rd hottest woman by Maxim magazine.   1.   The Minister`s Impression 04:21  |  Binyamin 07/05/09   2.   seems obvious 04:34  |  potobac 07/05/09   3.   WB settlements 04:55  |  Deacon2 07/05/09   4.   #1 Binyamin : I agree with you 100% 05:13  |  FK 07/05/09   5.   Thanks for that, Little Ehud 05:34  |  Johnboy 07/05/09   6.   Get ready for some serious pain 05:55  |  Harold 07/05/09   7.   Will Obama really stand up? 05:58  |  Don 07/05/09   8.   first get rid of all the illegal arab construction 06:06  |  david 07/05/09   9.   biggest boost since 2003 06:32  |  rm 07/05/09   10.   they figure, The more they take 06:37  |  Rob 07/05/09   11.   Why ??? 07:13  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/05/09   12.   The Arabs are building faster! 07:28  |  Israeli 07/05/09   13.   One State for Arabs and Jews : Palestine 07:28  |  Jorge 07/05/09   14.   We Will ALWAYS Build Here In OUR Land 07:42  |  Yishai Kohen 07/05/09   15.   Settlement activity commits us to belligerence and worse for ever 07:55  |  Esther 07/05/09   16.   Clear.all.settlers.out. NOW! Thieves of Palestinian land! 08:09  |  Hannah 07/05/09   17.   The settlements. 08:13  |  Jean Van Daem 07/05/09   18.   The settlers - the most loyal citizens of the Jewish state. 08:19  |  Jean Van Daem 07/05/09   19.   Peace 08:41  |  Uncle Sam 07/05/09   20.   Keep on building! 08:43  |  Wise Saba 07/05/09   21.   BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! 08:52  |  Fritz 07/05/09   22.   Who`s watching the building in arab towns in the north? 09:00  |  lily 07/05/09   23.   More building in the Holy Land 09:07  |  Mityashev 07/05/09   24.   yes to blah, the whole jewish project has gone crazy 09:13  |  fritz t. 07/05/09   25.   The true face of justice regarding housing in Israel 09:38  |  kungapa 07/05/09   26.   Israel Never Interested in Peace 09:47  |  Adam 07/05/09   27.   its legal mr segal keep up the good work right up to the jordania 09:48  |  v hardman 07/05/09   28.   Maybe Israel should stop lying? 09:55  |  Woody 07/05/09   29.   Good News Homes bring peace 10:21  |  Baruch Gold 07/05/09   30.   The Entire West Bank is 100% Israeli territory!!! 10:44  |  Dr Eric 07/05/09   31.   2 State solution! 10:46  |  Lisa 07/05/09   32.   this is what it will look like in a few years time 10:49  |  ramin 07/05/09   33.   Haaretz: San Remo 1920 conference clauses still binding ! 10:49  |  trumpeldor 07/05/09   34.   ramin 11:32  |  jennifer 07/05/09   35.   Illegal Settlement Expansion 11:33  |  Matty Groves 07/05/09   36.   ramin 11:35  |  jennifer 07/05/09   37.   "Palestinian Land" is a term I hadn`t read before .. 12:04  |  redbourn 07/05/09   38.   Why things change 12:14  |  Rod 07/05/09   39.   #16 Eric 12:41  |  BDS 07/05/09   40.   Woody--why? 13:52  |  QED 07/05/09   41.   Adam--a minor correction 13:55  |  QED 07/05/09   42.   does the BBC pay Haaretz for using its articles 14:04  |  richelle 07/05/09   43.   #4 Amen, amen amen 14:07  |  QED 07/05/09   44.   To Baruch 14:10  |  Sam Soul 07/05/09   45.   Haaretz 14:11  |  sonya 07/05/09   46.   to Jean Van Daem #4 14:15  |  Northern 07/05/09   47.   hardmean,trump-you may have a point in time 15:06  |  avi yekhmi 07/05/09   48.   Everyone really should admire that last line 15:11  |  Johnboy 07/05/09   49.   This is not good, but these facts are weak 18:06  |  ATN 07/05/09   50.   Caterpillar is going to work overtime... 22:07  |  Lou Medel 07/05/09   51.   #37 redbourn doesn`t read much 05:53  |  Johnboy 08/05/09   52.   #30 Dr. Eric shouts it to the world...... 06:00  |  Johnboy 08/05/09   53.   gee 16:22  |  edgar 08/05/09   54.   Settlers 12:59  |  Yakov 14/05/09

Read & React Obama warns Netanyahu: Don't surprise me with Iran strike Responses: 208 Ex-diplomats, U.S. Jews urge Obama to push two-state solution Responses: 71 Gideon Levy / Anti-Semitism is rearing its head in Tel Aviv Responses: 43 IDF probing whether troops forced Gaza man to drink urine Responses: 26 More Headlines 13:56 Netanyahu meets with Jordan's King in Aqaba 11:51 Obama warns Netanyahu: Don't surprise me with Iran strike 14:06 In Nazareth, Pope calls on Muslims and Christians to reject hatred 13:11 Katsav vows to prove his innocence as rape trial begins 12:08 Australian charged over anti-Semitic YouTube video 12:17 Why are more and more Israelis starring on American reality TV? 11:16 INTERACTIVE GUIDE / Pope Benedict XVI in the Holy Land 13:52 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 14:19 Iran sends two warships to confront Somali pirates 13:04 Israel rejects Vatican request to grant Christian Arab couple citizenship 03:27 IDF probing whether troops forced Gaza man to drink urine 08:01 New West Bank roads jeopardizing chances for peace accord 14:15 U.S. Marine helps Magen David Adom reach its blood collection goal Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 10 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 03 may 01 may 30 apr

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