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Last update - 02:08 28/12/2006 U.S.: Plans for new West Bank settlement violate road map By News Agencies Israel's plan to settle 30 families on a former Israel Defense Forces base in the West Bank would violate terms of a U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, the United States said on Wednesday. "The establishment of a new settlement or the expansion of an existing settlement would violate Israel's obligations under the road map," Gonzo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, told reporters in Washington. "The U.S. calls on Israel to meet its road map obligations and avoid taking steps that could be viewed as predetermining the outcome of final-status negotiations," he said. Washington was seeking an explanation from Israel, Gallegos added. Advertisement Defending its construction plan, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy said "the settlement is not a new one." It was legally established in 1982, housed an army unit and a school and has had civilians living there for several years, said spokesman David Siegel. The plan is to build within the confines of the existing settlement, he said. Israel agreed to the road map in 2003. It was devised by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia in an effort to guide Israel and the Palestinians into an agreement that estalishes a Palestinian state. The European Union said earlier Wednesday it was deeply concerned about the plan, which would turn a former Israel Defense Forces base in the West Bank into a settlement for 30 settler families evacuated from Gaza last year. A U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan known as the road map calls for a halt to settlement construction in the West Bank, land Palestinians want for a state. "This development runs contrary to the commitment undertaken by Israel in the road map," Finland, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said in a statement. "The Presidency of the European Union expresses its deep concern at the news that the Israeli government has authorized the construction of the Maskiot settlement in the West Bank. "Such unilateral actions are also illegal under international law and threaten to render the two-state solution physically impossible to implement," it said. The families planning to move to the former army base in Maskiot lived in two of the 21 settlements Israel dismantled in the Gaza Strip in 2005 under the disengagement plan promoted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Some 8,500 settlers were pulled out of the Gaza Strip, along with IDF troops, after 38 years of control. "The Presidency of the EU urges the parties to refrain from all activities that would endanger the cease-fire," Finland said. "Extending the ceasefire to the West Bank must be an urgent goal." Some 260,000 settlers live in the West Bank, among 2.5 million Palestinians. The World Court has branded Israeli settlements on land captured in the 1967 Six Day War as illegal. Repopulating Maskiot Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Tuesday authorized the repopulation of Maskiot, an abandoned Nahal infantry brigade settlement in the Jordan Valley. Peretz approved the construction of 30 new homes in Maskiot that are intended for families evacuated from Shirat Hayam and other uprooted Gaza Strip settlements. Shirat Hayam was one of the more ideological settlements among the Katif settlement bloc. It was founded in response to a Palestinian terrorist attack against a bus carrying children from the nearby settlement of Kfar Darom. The proposal to relocate the families in Maskiot was approved in principle by the former defense minister Shaul Mofaz and the former prime minister Ariel Sharon. Maskiot originally had belonged to the ultra-Orthodox branch of Nahal and currently houses a premilitary academy. The area of Maskiot, along with that belonging to Beitar Ilit, Givat Ze'ev, and Oranim, was expanded in May. Of the four settlements, Maskiot is the only one on the eastern side of the West Bank separation fence. It was initially reported that Peretz would suspend authorization to repopulate the settlement. Construction on the new homes will begin in the upcoming weeks, according to Jordan Valley Regional Council Chairman Dubi Tal Bookmark to del.icio.us   The bigger apple Study shows Tel Aviv is more expensive to live in than New York. When bedbugs bite After 40 years' absence, Israel braces for return of the bedbug.   1.   Settlers as Pawns 18:47  |  Natallie Durson 27/12/06   2.   Stupidity 18:50  |  Robert 27/12/06   3.   1 more PROMISE BROKEN... 18:52  |  MIKE KATZ 27/12/06   4.   EU 18:54  |  Elizabeth 27/12/06   5.   EU slams 18:54  |  I 27/12/06   6.   Pressure tactics? 18:54  |  Yonatan 27/12/06   7.   #1 NATALLIE IT IS LAND INSIDE ISRAEL 18:58  |  paul harris 27/12/06   8.   No word on actual Qassams but concern for plans from EU-jerks 19:02  |  Absolute Sweden 27/12/06   9.   Terrible Israeli Move, Again 19:06  |  Jason 27/12/06   10.   to I #5 19:13  |  The Editor - BO 27/12/06   11.   ELIZABETH 19:17  |  BO 27/12/06   12.   SETTLERS AS PAWNS? TO NATALIE DURSON#1 19:34  |  bo 27/12/06   13.   no human being should have to resettle 19:52  |  Ralph 27/12/06   14.   None of the business of EU 19:55  |  Brod 27/12/06   15.   EU statements equal incitement to hatred and violence 19:56  |  Joseph E . 27/12/06   16.   West Bank is a EU-designated `no kike` zone 20:04  |  Moshe 27/12/06   17.   Paul Harris vs. The World Part 1 20:05  |  chet 27/12/06   18.   EU is right, Elisabeth is wrong 20:07  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 27/12/06   19.   Paul Harris vs. The World Part 2 20:12  |  chet 27/12/06   20.   So anybody criticizing colonialist Jewish 20:23  |  American living here 27/12/06   21.   to bad. they count for nothing 20:24  |  ralph 27/12/06   22.   The EU is right on this 20:31  |  Geoff 27/12/06   23.   american living here, #20 21:15  |  Joe 27/12/06   24.   When will US and EU slam the Palestinians 21:32  |  X 27/12/06   25.   Illegal settlement 21:34  |  zephora 27/12/06   26.   What are these idiots doing? 21:35  |  Jerusalem Shmuel 27/12/06   27.   Too Little Too Late with Criticism 21:35  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/06   28.   Gaza settlers AGAIN? Common now 21:36  |  Omar 27/12/06   29.   Israel`s plan to construct a new community the West Bank 21:38  |  paul 27/12/06   30.   Elizabeth sweetheart 21:40  |  Omar 27/12/06   31.   The World vs the Jews 21:43  |  Barry 27/12/06   32.   Even the Americans! 21:44  |  Boycott 27/12/06   33.   Ralph 21:46  |  Omar 27/12/06   34.   Israel`s hubris and irresponsibility 21:49  |  Otto Rand 27/12/06   35.   Why shriek at the EU - US also condemned this decision 21:52  |  Gullible Cynic 27/12/06   36.   Jordan Valley will have to remain a part of Israel 21:54  |  Ehudi Zioni 27/12/06   37.   re # 9 Jason 21:56  |  Axel 27/12/06   38.   re # 7 paul 21:58  |  Axel 27/12/06   39.   Re #7 `IT IS LAND INSIDE ISRAEL...` 22:01  |  Colin Wright 27/12/06   40.   creating new friction-points 22:03  |  rose 27/12/06   41.   PLEASE ANSWER: ARE SETTLERS CIVILIANS ??????? 22:03  |  THE JACKAL 27/12/06   42.   more villages and towns... 22:09  |  Vital 27/12/06   43.   TO Bo #12 22:09  |  Darwish 27/12/06   44.   Real or Paper tiger? 22:11  |  Baz Mann 27/12/06   45.   Overreaction man 22:11  |  A. M. R. 27/12/06   46.   re # 13 Ralph 22:12  |  Axel 27/12/06   47.   Stupidity is even more obvious 22:16  |  Robert 27/12/06   48.   with AIPAC blackmailers behind them 22:18  |  samos 27/12/06   49.   To the World 22:20  |  Rick 27/12/06   50.   ever hear of "getting jewed"? 22:20  |  samos 27/12/06   51.   ELIZABETH and the EU 22:23  |  samos 27/12/06   52.   With all due respect, Chet # 17 and 19 22:23  |  Elihu D. Stone, JD 27/12/06   53.   The Road Map is Dead 22:23  |  Wendy 27/12/06   54.   Israel treated today as Jews were in the 1930s 22:27  |  Bimmer 27/12/06   55.   Israel has ALL the rights 22:27  |  samos 27/12/06   56.   not pawns #1--the raison d`etre 22:28  |  Paul Freedman 27/12/06   57.   IDIOCY 22:40  |  Brant 27/12/06   58.   Chet #17 & #19 22:41  |  Dana in Canada 27/12/06   59.   Whats not to like? 22:45  |  tadchase 27/12/06   60.   Road Map is an unconstitutional action against religion 22:46  |  sam 27/12/06   61.   Road Map 22:55  |  Dwido 27/12/06   62.   Colonial Expansion 22:56  |  Ernie 27/12/06   63.   another victory for the anti Israeli settlers 22:57  |  Ernst 27/12/06   64.   Do attacks on Israel violate nothing? 22:58  |  KUTW 27/12/06   65.   1. Natallie Durson: the Pawns 23:01  |  KUTW 27/12/06   66.   From Azza to Azzazel, or: Old concepts die hard 23:02  |  Tosefta 27/12/06   67.   Money to build settlement should be... 23:06  |  Rami 27/12/06   68.   A KING IN ISRAEL 23:06  |  SOON 27/12/06   69.   Bush senior was the last U.S. president..... 23:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/06   70.   When did Europe support Israel ? 23:07  |  redmike 27/12/06   71.   but eu says nothing about constant rocket fire 23:08  |  ralph 27/12/06   72.   #20 - don`t like it then go home ! Arab american ? 23:10  |  redmike 27/12/06   73.   This exposes the myth of Israel caring about Israelis 23:17  |  Tim 27/12/06   74.   Strategic frontier against Arab attack 23:17  |  Ehudi Zioni 27/12/06   75.   #4 Bush upset at new settlements 23:20  |  ballistic 27/12/06   76.   Second Try 23:20  |  Gullible Cynic 27/12/06   77.   Monumental chutzpa of Israel 23:26  |  Esther 27/12/06   78.   #13 why don`t you feel the same way about the 23:28  |  ballistic 27/12/06   79.   #15 Joseph E UN incites hatred and violence 23:34  |  ballistic 27/12/06   80.   why? 23:44  |  newpoli 27/12/06   81.   Plans for new west bank settlement violate... 23:44  |  k.herzallah 27/12/06   82.   #17 Chet/Mr. Harris 23:45  |  ballistic 27/12/06   83.   the PA is or ever has abided by the road map ? 23:45  |  redmike 27/12/06   84.   #25 Dana in Canada--you hit the nail 23:47  |  ballistic 27/12/06   85.   #21 they count for nothing 23:52  |  ballistic 27/12/06   86.   From Azza to Azzazel, or: Old concepts die hard 23:55  |  Tosefta 27/12/06   87.   #30 they didn`t say anything about rocket fire 23:57  |  ballistic 27/12/06   88.   #28 no Bush didn`t listen to his dad--evidence 00:01  |  ballistic 28/12/06   89.   Dana: Are You A Good Apolitical Artist? 00:13  |  Lavi 28/12/06   90.   #28 Dino 00:18  |  tadchase 28/12/06   91.   The Road Map is Long Ago Nullified 00:20  |  Mike 28/12/06   92.   The Road Map is DEAD, DEAD, DEAD 00:21  |  ray 28/12/06   93.   To Ralph no. 30 00:25  |  Geoff 28/12/06   94.   #26 I vote to stop the aid all together 00:26  |  ballistic 28/12/06   95.   Why should Israel restrict any Jew when palestinians 00:30  |  Bimmer 28/12/06   96.   The Invisible Hand 00:32  |  Victor Smolinsky 28/12/06   97.   #32 here we go, more Israeli spin to justify theft 00:38  |  ballistic 28/12/06   98.   Yes to the Settlement NO TO PEACE NOW 00:41  |  Sam WEinstein 28/12/06   99.   #29 take account of what US thinks 00:49  |  ballistic 28/12/06   100.   #31 read your post-I rest my case; regards!! 00:51  |  ballistic 28/12/06   101.   International isolation and contempt 00:58  |  Hannah 28/12/06   102.   Ignore them and press ahead with more Mashkiyots 00:58  |  Dr. L. Brnd 28/12/06   103.   #13, Ralph 01:02  |  Hannah 28/12/06   104.   Dana: Are You A Good Apolitical Artist? 01:24  |  Lavi 28/12/06   105.   Settlement is Terrorism. 01:24  |  Ibn Filastin 28/12/06   106.   Its never anyones business but Israels unless 01:29  |  Guy From NYC 28/12/06   107.   road map obligations!? 01:33  |  Briton 28/12/06   108.   Plainly obvious who wants peace, and who doesn`t 01:43  |  Canadian 28/12/06   109.   europe should now boycot israel 01:44  |  cris 28/12/06   110.   I don`t know what to say 01:49  |  J Mundstuk 28/12/06   111.   Regarding Geneva Conventions 01:51  |  Olim in waiting 28/12/06   112.   #32 Explain pls 01:53  |  J Mundstuk 28/12/06   113.   "American"??? living here.You Quranic Jihadists do not want peace 01:56  |  PETERSM 28/12/06   114.   Broken promises? 01:57  |  Miki 28/12/06   115.   Paul Harris - NO 1922 BORDERS 02:12  |  Stephen Connor 28/12/06   116.   Ballistic is a laugh 02:17  |  Alex 28/12/06   117.   None of USA or EU bisiness 02:21  |  Carol 28/12/06   118.   From Azza to Azzazel, or: Old concepts die hard 02:22  |  Tosefta 28/12/06   119.   17 19 chet thank you! 02:32  |  John the Canadian 28/12/06   120.   #27 A KING IN ISRAEL 02:36  |  hala 28/12/06   121.   EU 02:46  |  tom 28/12/06   122.   Dana #25 When do you propose to set an example 02:46  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   123.   Liz #4 02:47  |  JJ 28/12/06   124.   #31 Tim, you`re wrong AGAIN 02:47  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   125.   Gambling away the disengagement bonus 02:50  |  For a Better Israel 28/12/06   126.   #15 Hannah - the animals are the Palestinian`s 02:50  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   127.   Road map, brainchild of Bush et al 02:54  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   128.   Cut off their money supply 03:02  |  Dutch 28/12/06   129.   # 37 tadchase 03:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/12/06   130.   What is the US going to do about it? 03:06  |  Roger 28/12/06   131.   Reminder 03:06  |  JJ 28/12/06   132.   New settlement is plain stupid 03:24  |  ussishkin 28/12/06   133.   36 Lavi 03:46  |  John the Canadian 28/12/06   134.   Jordan Valley 03:57  |  Vidal 28/12/06   135.   For the sake of peace get the unsettlers out of the West Bank. 03:58  |  Timothy 28/12/06   136.   Most of these posts ignore reality 04:01  |  spyguy 28/12/06   137.   57 ben jabo and zionist nonsense 04:24  |  John the Canadian 28/12/06   138.   ben Jabo Hannah is 04:27  |  bev 28/12/06   139.   dutch 04:28  |  bev 28/12/06   140.   So stop paying your taxes and zip it! 04:30  |  Alex 28/12/06   141.   Carol #63, boy I sure agree with you, yessiree I do 04:51  |  ballistic 28/12/06   142.   #1 army base that was stolen 04:54  |  ballistic 28/12/06   143.   #72 don`t know world opinion agrees with that premise 04:56  |  ballistic 28/12/06   144.   #73 bush know what you know not 04:58  |  ballistic 28/12/06   145.   #77 the world knows the settlements are illegal 05:01  |  ballistic 28/12/06   146.   #91 Hannah posts seem right on point to me 05:05  |  ballistic 28/12/06   147.   a sad state of affairs... 05:06  |  abstract 28/12/06   148.   Correction Elizabeth 05:12  |  David James Vickery 28/12/06   149.   #89 - Dutch`s Taxes 05:21  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   150.   #101 in other words, AIPAC, ADL will continue feeding 05:24  |  ballistic 28/12/06   151.   #98 John The Canadian 05:29  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   152.   #98 John The Canadian 05:29  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06   153.   sad state of affairs (2nd try) 05:33  |  abstract 28/12/06   154.   #97 Spyguy preaching to the deaf 05:38  |  ballistic 28/12/06   155.   Lavi? What are you asking Dana? 06:02  |  David James Vickery 28/12/06   156.   John: Your Eating Canadian Wheat With The Chaff! 06:03  |  Lavi 28/12/06   157.   Dear Bummer 06:18  |  David James Vickery 28/12/06   158.   Relevancy 06:33  |  Victor 28/12/06   159.   Attacking the EU 06:40  |  Victor 28/12/06   160.   #133 Ben Jabo is an excellent idea, but first 06:54  |  ballistic 28/12/06   161.   #151 Mr ballistic??? Sorry to disappoint 06:59  |  ballistic 28/12/06   162.   #53 perhaps you could put forth a little more meat for the statem 07:09  |  ballistic 28/12/06   163.   #58 sure they are concerned, but 07:23  |  ballistic 28/12/06   164.   #125, ben Jabo 07:27  |  Hannah 28/12/06   165.   #71 boy, maam, are you a diamond in the rough 07:29  |  ballistic 28/12/06   166.   #143 - The Palestinians are not our `neighbors` ! 07:58  |  redmike 28/12/06   167.   Vickery: I Was Quering Dana About Her Knowledge ... 08:03  |  Lavi 28/12/06   168.   ben jabo am aaretz 09:37  |  john the canadian 28/12/06   169.   ON THE SPOT # 106! LOVE YOU!! 13:56  |  FUTURA 28/12/06   170.   ECONOMIC & CULTURAL BOYCOTT 14:04  |  Futura 28/12/06   171.   Road map 14:54  |  Brod 28/12/06   172.   @#105 - dude, @#108 21:23  |  A. M. R. 28/12/06   173.   #151-2 John the Canadian 06:35  |  * BEN JABO 29/12/06   174.   #168 - John the Canadian Arab 06:47  |  * BEN JABO 29/12/06   175.   To A.M.R. (Talk Back 172) 12:53  |  Ibn Filastin 17/01/07   176.   #174 Ben Jabo 00:52  |  Marc 25/07/08

Read & React Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work Responses: 126 Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples Responses: 154 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran Responses: 85 Editorial: We need a U.S. leader unfettered by the Israel lobby Responses: 78 Israel Harel: Shalit must be made a burden for Hamas, rather than an asset Responses: 30 Rosner's Domain The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? More Headlines 00:21 Obama to PM: Talks with Iran necessary to legitimize action 01:39 Shin Bet head Diskin: Cease-fire with Hamas unlikely to hold 00:20 AG: Olmert obstructing graft probes against him 22:27 Settler holds knife to IDF soldier's throat in West Bank riot 00:47 Tali Fahima: Zakariya Zubeidi is Israeli security service's whore 22:51 Cancer research center warns: Stay away from cell phones 15:36 Jewish World/Unwilling flag wavers? 01:13 Boy whose mother is suspected of selling him removed from U.K. family 21:19 MKs okay new West Bank homes, despite vow to freeze settlements 23:45 Arab bloc rescinds proposal to have UN vote against Israeli settlements 22:51 Egyptian Facebook activists jailed for threatening national security 14:41 Study: Tel Aviv more expensive to live in than New York 23:59 VIDEO / Another delay in Katsav sex crimes indictment as case transferred 19:10 Pop singer Aviv Gefen pens new ballad calling to free Shalit Previous Editions Select Day 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul

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