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Vice Premier Haim Ramon. (Tess Scheflan / Jini)
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Last update - 12:33 18/12/2007
Vice Premier suggests swapping land with PA to keep settlements
By The Associated Press
Tags: Haim Ramon, Israel, land swap 

Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Tuesday that Israel was moving ahead with construction in major West Bank settlements, but proposed compensating the Palestinians with Israeli territory under a final peace deal.

Ramon's comments were the first time an Israeli official has openly endorsed the idea of a land swap. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also supports the concept, which could solve one of the most contentious issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem - captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War - for part of a future Palestinian state and say all Jewish construction there is illegal.
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They have argued that Israel's refusal to freeze settlement expansion has threatened to undermine renewed peace talks, which were revived recently after a seven-year halt.

Olmert has signaled he is ready for a large withdrawal from the West Bank, but that he wants to retain the large housing blocs where the vast majority of settlers live.

Speaking to Army Radio, Ramon acknowledged widespread construction in the West Bank, but said almost "all building activity is taking place in settlement blocs that we want in the end of the process to see as part of Israel."

He maintained that the Palestinians accept this position.

"The Palestinians won't say that this is good, but there is no doubt that the Palestinians understand that in the end of the peace process, the settlement blocs will be under Israeli sovereignty in return for an exchange of territory," Ramon said.

"What I propose is that we reach an agreement with the Palestinians today over the principle of settlement blocs under Israeli sovereignty and in return an exchange of territory," he added. "Then it will be very clear where we build and where we don't build."

The U.S.-backed road map peace plan calls on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including "natural growth" in existing communities. However, Israel says the U.S. supports its position on retaining settlement blocs, pointing to a 2005 letter in which U.S. President George W. Bush said a final peace deal would have to recognize new realities on the ground.

Ramon gave no details on how much West Bank land Israel would claim, or how much it is prepared to provide to the Palestinians in compensation.

Israel is expected to seek a final border along the lines of its West Bank separation barrier, which is expected to leave roughly eight percent of the West Bank, along with the settlement blocs, in Israeli hands when it is complete.

Abbas has said he would agree to a land swap, as long as Israel provides him with an identical amount of land.

Olmert and Abbas last month set a December 2008 target for reaching a final agreement. But the talks have gotten off to a rough start.

The Palestinians are upset by Israeli plans to build 307 apartments in an East Jerusalem neighborhood. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 war and does not consider construction there to be settlement activity.

The road map also requires Israel to remove several dozen tiny settlement outposts scattered throughout the West Bank. Ramon acknowledged that Israel has failed to meet this obligation.

We are not able to deal with our commitments, he said. He accused a minority of extremists of dictating its way in an undemocratic manner.

The Palestinians, meanwhile, are required to rein in militant groups. Abbas says he has begun carrying out this obligation in the West Bank, but Israel says he must go much further.

Israel also says Abbas must control militants in the Gaza Strip, which was overrun by the Hamas militant group last June. Abbas wields no control in Gaza, raising questions about his ability to carry out any future peace deal.

Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, has sealed Gaza's borders, cut off most trade and reduced fuel shipments to the area since the Hamas takeover.

Ramon said Israel should take further economic sanctions to undermine Hamas. We're only at the beginning, he said.

On Monday, Israeli officials said that Israel will allow construction within built up areas of existing West Bank settlements, but will not expand beyond those areas.

Related articles:
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  • Jerusalem promises to freeze W. Bank settlement construction
  • Palestinians slam Israeli move to build new homes in E. Jerusalem
  • PA to U.S.: We'll accept nothing less than total settlement freeze
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      1.   why keep Israeli Arabs in Israel against their will? 12:35  |  18/12/07
      2.   ENTIRE CONFLICT EXPLAINED IN LESS THAN 20 LINES 12:35  |  G. Marcus 18/12/07
      3.   Look who`s talking! 12:45  |  Axel 18/12/07
      4.   How Many Weeks After Annapolis? 13:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/12/07
      5.   EXPLANING THE CONFLICT IN 6 LINES 13:04  |  Jim 18/12/07
      6.   Axel, those extremists are Jewish extremists 13:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/12/07
      7.   Ramon: We are not able to deal with our commitments 13:16  |  Middle East 18/12/07
      8.   Opportunity 13:22  |  ATLAS 18/12/07
      9.   Road Map and Israelis officials promise to freeze settlements 13:34  |  Joseph E . 18/12/07
      10.   # 9 joseph 13:48  |  Axel 18/12/07
      11.   Notice the spin from ATLAS 14:12  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/12/07
      12.   Say that again, Ramon? 14:28  |  Johnboy 18/12/07
      13.   #9 I hate to tell you, Joseph E.... 14:44  |  Johnboy 18/12/07
      14.   Is it a deal? 14:52  |  Clickfool 18/12/07
      15.   ENOUGH! Israel Is Full Of It...HAMAS Is Responsible For Gaza!! 15:12  |  Proud Pal Defender 18/12/07
      16.   SOLUTION: Hamas, Etc. In Gaza And Fatah In The West Bank. 15:16  |  Proud Pal Defender 18/12/07
      17.   #2, G. Marcus. Sorry to ruin your round number 15:20  |  zmogus 18/12/07
      18.   Mr Haim Ramon 15:22  |  happysettler 18/12/07
      19.   Legitimate Course 15:39  |  DoubleClick 18/12/07
      20.   To Axel, Johnboy, Clickfool, Sullivan 15:51  |  Morris Valentine 18/12/07
      21.   Land-swap, but where? Israeli democracy to the test 15:54  |  Leser 18/12/07
      22.   Yes, Morris, precisely, but they won`t #15 16:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/12/07
      23.   #1, Israeli Arabs will stay, only Israeli land will go 16:45  |  Terry 18/12/07
      24.   Leserin Jerusalem, but that is what Israel will offer 16:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/12/07
      25.   ramon u r nuts. they have nothing to swap!! 16:51  |  Alon chiloni 18/12/07
      26.   # 17 leser 16:55  |  Axel 18/12/07
      27.   Sorry Ramon ,settlements are illegal,ALL of them and they were 17:07  |  lakshmi 18/12/07
      28.   RAMON, BOMB YOU ENEMY. STOP CRAWLING TO MURDERERS! 17:14  |  Aon chiloni 18/12/07
      29.   Only one peaceful solution 17:28  |  Ayub Khan 18/12/07
      30.   the only acceptable offer 17:37  |  steve from raleigh 18/12/07
      31.   Nothing in UN#242 requires "swaps", withdrawal beyond Green Line 18:03  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/12/07
      32.   Let`s see if I got this right... 18:46  |  Goldberg 18/12/07
      33.   I suggest swapping the Vice premier with someone loyal to Israel 18:48  |  David 18/12/07
      34.   Good job Haaretz 18:53  |  David 18/12/07
      35.   # 2 G. Marcus, you are mistaken, this forum is for anti-semintes 19:00  |  David 18/12/07
      36.   Ex Sex Offender Vice Premier Haim Ramon is an "Etrog" paying fees 19:19  |  Joseph E . 18/12/07
      37.   #26 Axel 19:20  |  Leser 18/12/07
      38.   Keep all the settlements...in fact, lets get more. 19:22  |  Esau Sullivan 18/12/07
      39.   I have a jewish surname, that must make me Jewish! 19:23  |  "Esau" Sullivan 18/12/07
      40.   how is it that Israel 19:32  |  Kris 18/12/07
      41.   To Lakshmi (#27) 19:33  |  Morris Valentine 18/12/07
      42.   #26 Axel - Land and populations have been swapped 19:35  |  Yonatan 18/12/07
      43.   Umm el-Fahm, Taibeh, Qalansuwa and Tireh 19:39  |  Yonatan 18/12/07
      44.   Nothing can be clearer about where Israel can build 19:42  |  Pablo B 18/12/07
      45.   #35 "Esau" Sullivan 19:43  |  Yonatan 18/12/07
      46.   Whiny David in Houston 19:45  |  Goldberg 18/12/07
      47.   Well there is one thing I agree with Ramon 19:50  |  Kris 18/12/07
      48.   Yonatan - try your backyard 19:52  |  Goldberg 18/12/07
      49.   #39 Yonatan 20:02  |  Leser 18/12/07
      50.   put a VERY HIGH price on Isreali land 20:10  |  dav zee 18/12/07
      51.   To Yonatan (#39) 20:12  |  Morris Valentine 18/12/07
      52.   #33, David says: don`t agree with me, you`re a traitor 20:32  |  newageblues 18/12/07
      53.   SWAP ISRAEL FOR CANADA? 21:04  |  ISHMAEL 18/12/07
      54.   Land swapping 21:14  |  Shekel 18/12/07
      55.   # 37 leser 21:46  |  Axel 18/12/07
      56.   If Right of Return Is Denied, All Settlers Must Go 21:50  |  Ed Rosen 18/12/07
      57.   # 42 yonatan 21:51  |  Axel 18/12/07
      58.   And, Yonatan #42 21:57  |  Axel 18/12/07
      59.   Ramon 22:26  |  CJE 18/12/07
      60.   Despair 23:03  |  Esther 18/12/07
      61.   Homeland not for sale 23:37  |  e.m 18/12/07
      62.   # 60 esther 00:05  |  Axel 19/12/07
      63.   Who can they talk to....?! 00:22  |  Esther 19/12/07
      64.   Judenrein 00:47  |  Joseph 19/12/07
      65.   Not one inch! 01:09  |  Nathan Mizrahi 19/12/07
      66.   Land swaps are for hucksters like the present Israeli government 02:22  |  EGW 19/12/07
      67.   #20 Oh, I agree, Morris Valentine 02:58  |  Johnboy 19/12/07
      68.   To Johnboy (#67) 21:34  |  Morris Valentine 19/12/07
      69.   To Axel (#60) 21:49  |  Morris Valentine 19/12/07
      70.   #68 I`ll repeat what I said earlier, Morris 03:46  |  Johnboy 20/12/07
      71.   Why not swap this Israeli leadership for toilet paper instead?