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Ras al-Amud section of East Jerusalem (Daniel Bar-On / Jini)
Last update - 14:02 15/01/2008
Diplomat: U.S. firmly opposes all W. Bank, E. J'lem construction
By Barak Ravid and Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: settlement, Israel 

The United States clarified to Israel during U.S. President George Bush's visit this week that it disapproves of all building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank - including in the large settlement blocs, a senior Western diplomat said Tuesday.

The diplomat added that Israel and the U.S. differ on their interpretation of the letter President Bush sent to former prime minister Ariel Sharon in April, 2004.

"The letter refers to major population centers and not the settlement blocs, while stressing that everything must also be decided in the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians," the diplomat said.
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According to the diplomat, Bush is steadfast in his objection of building in West Bank settlements and East Jerusalem.

"The American government also opposes constuction due to the natural growth of the present settlers", he said. He added, however, that if progress is made on border issues it may help to resolve the settlement issue. "When the route of the permanent border becomes clearer, the locations where Israel can and cannot build will also be clearer."

The diplomat also said that the U.S. supports the opening of the Gaza checkpoints, especially the Karni crossing, by manning them with forces subordinate to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

"The Bush administration is willing to examine creative ideas", the diplomat said, "the goal is to destabilize Hamas and the opening of checkpoints for the transfer of good would advance this goal."

Israel begins constructing 60 new homes in East Jerusalem
Meanwhile, construction has begun on another 60 housing units in the Jewish neighborhood of Maaleh Hazeitim, in East Jerusalem's Ras al-Amud section.

Fifty-one Jewish families already live in the small neighborhood, built on land purchased 15 years ago by the American millionaire Irwin Moskowitz, patron of the Ateret Cohanim organization.

The neighborhood's initial construction provoked an international storm in September 1997, and the United States pressured Israel not to go ahead with the plan. The pressure was rebuffed by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and backed by Jerusalem's mayor at the time, Ehud Olmert.

The new construction, with a municipal permit, is being carried out by Kedumim 3000, a company headed by Nachman Zoldan, father of Ido Zoldan who was murdered two months ago in a terror attack near Kedumim.

Right-wing activists ascribe great significance to widening Jewish construction in Ras al-Amud, and to realizing ownership of lots and buildings that it has managed to acquire in recent years in that vicinity.

According to their thinking, Maaleh Hazeitim makes it harder to create a Palestinian territorial corridor, a sort of "safe passage" between the West Bank to the east, and the Temple Mount.

In the past, Israeli-Palestinian talks included the idea of establishing such a corridor running through the old Jericho road, the Mount of Olives region, Motta Gur Street, up to the Lion's Gate and to the Temple Mount.

Related articles:
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  • Construction to start in area Palestinians want for corridor
  • Rice welcomes Israeli decision to nix building plan in East J'lem
  • Har Homa neighborhood slated for 'absentee' Palestinian land
  • Legal effort slows building for Arabs in East J'lem village
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      1.   land of the legitimate heirs 02:46  |  Theodor 15/01/08
      2.   marvellous news 03:00  |  zevulun 15/01/08
      3.   Housing 03:48  |  David 15/01/08
      4.   Are you tried to provoke another storm? 04:14  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 15/01/08
      5.   Are you tried to provoke another storm? 04:14  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 15/01/08
      6.   construction 04:24  |  dave 15/01/08
      7.   Good news 04:26  |  Evangelistic 15/01/08
      8.   more stolen land to become an obstacle to peace 04:40  |  surprise 15/01/08
      9.   Cementing a ONE state solution 04:41  |  Christian 15/01/08
      10.   Baruch Hashem 04:53  |  Edifice 15/01/08
      11.   No 2 MARVELOUS NEWS AND MARVELOUS JEWS N/C 05:14  |  Miriam Ashkelon 15/01/08
      12.   Your timing is perfect. 05:25  |  R 15/01/08
      13.   Hill Song 05:39  |  Pierre 15/01/08
      14.   Israel = A Welfare Occupational State Funded by Religious Freaks. 05:57  |  POP 15/01/08
      15.   Israel does not want peace. 06:44  |  Maki 15/01/08
      16.   sweet, some more war for us all 06:45  |  johnj 15/01/08
      17.   Unnecessary, untimely provocation... 07:09  |  Esther 15/01/08
      18.   I was getting worried 07:10  |  Danite 15/01/08
      19.   #1 theodor 07:22  |  dave 15/01/08
      20.   Shame on Israeli government 07:27  |  MarkC 15/01/08
      21.   Jews Building On Jewish Land: Why Is This News? 07:48  |  Yishai Kohen 15/01/08
      22.   Three problems 08:18  |  Choni Davidowitz 15/01/08
      23.   And you say you want peace 08:32  |  Steve the Pals. 15/01/08
      24.   Bush has never been one to give in to pressure 08:32  |  Natallie Durson 15/01/08
      25.   Pierre on Hillsong 08:48  |  Nephtaly 15/01/08
      26.   It looks like... 09:02  |  PS 15/01/08
      27.   How to torpedo the peace process 09:03  |  Steve the Pals. 15/01/08
      28.   Jerusalem is part of sovereign Israel! In the future Jerusalem 09:19  |  Avihu 15/01/08
      29.   Munch, munch, the sound of a piecrust being broken 09:32  |  Clickfool 15/01/08
      30.   Israel not a serious partner for peace 09:39  |  Erik 15/01/08
      31.   Appartments will be needed for returning Palestinian refugees! 09:49  |  Chanalau, Tova 15/01/08
      32.   we can use this for the `land exchange` later 09:54  |  Michelle 15/01/08
      33.   #14 POP - My suggestion to you 09:54  |  Yonatan 15/01/08
      34.   #16 john j - "some more war for us all" 09:58  |  Yonatan 15/01/08
      35.   It`s Jewish-owned land in the capital of the Jewish State 10:04  |  Yonatan 15/01/08
      36.   A good start 10:24  |  Avraham 15/01/08
      37.   bad news 10:29  |  Aaron 15/01/08
      38.   Israel`s image even worse now. 10:34  |  Aaron 15/01/08
      39.   there was LOVE in the beggining 10:38  |  ... 15/01/08
      40.   Another pointless Haaretz Tallkback 10:48  |  Ofer Maimon 15/01/08
      41.   For Yonatan # 33 10:51  |  Clickfool 15/01/08
      42.   very disappointing 10:52  |  christian 15/01/08
      43.   All this will do is strengthening Israels role....... 11:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/01/08
      44.   People start to laugh... 11:03  |  Anne 15/01/08
      45.   #41 Clickfool 11:08  |  Yonatan 15/01/08
      46.   For Ofer Maimon, who`s being ridiculous # 40 11:09  |  Clickfool 15/01/08
      47.   #44 Anne 0 Good letter! 11:11  |  Yonatan 15/01/08
      48.   Clickfool...since when is Bush you new Hero? 11:12  |  Ofer Maimon 15/01/08
      49.   #37 Aaron Gant 11:20  |  Shmuel 15/01/08
      50.   For Yonatan #45 11:24  |  Clickfool 15/01/08
      51.   For Ofer Maimon # 48 11:26  |  Clickfool 15/01/08
      52.   Build and Build and then build some more 11:27  |  Evanalistic 15/01/08
      53.   Palestinians fire Qassams, Israel builds Jerusalem 11:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/01/08
      54.   Israel doesn`t deserve peace 11:30  |  Stephen Murray 15/01/08
      55.   FURTHER EVIDENCE ZIONISTS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION 11:34  |  TrippleJump 15/01/08
      56.   Boy, boy, boy!!! 11:42  |  Edith 15/01/08
      57.   Dear Israeli people, don`t you understand what kind of a mess.... 11:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/01/08
      58.   #55 tripple jump and the other nitwits 11:47  |  v hardman 15/01/08
      59.   Building Jerusalem 11:51  |  PETER SM 15/01/08
      60.   Clickfool only half right 11:58  |  Ofer Maimon 15/01/08
      61.   no gnat-alee, Israel can & will build forever, tough sht 12:02  |  Elie, RN 15/01/08
      62.   building in Jerusalem 12:15  |  Constance Blackwell 15/01/08
      63.   @37, aaron. arabs are living in jewish quarters all over 12:21  |  vladimir 15/01/08
      64.   buy land and build 12:23  |  yaheskel 15/01/08
      65.   Abbas Must Be Tried for Treason !! 12:25  |  Hani 15/01/08
      66.   i suggest every time swiss dino opens his mouth we build 12:28  |  toblerone 15/01/08
      67.   @54 cretin from amsterdam please start boycott now 12:28  |  vladimir 15/01/08
      68.   Hmmm... that is what I thought 12:30  |  Edith 15/01/08
      69.   Negative energy is not a solid basis ... 12:33  |  Edith 15/01/08
      70.   # 59 FAKE PETER SM.NOTE grammatical mistake in a term I NEVER use 12:38  |  PETER SM 15/01/08
      71.