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The West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim. (Archives) Last update - 18:51 24/01/2008 PM completely freezes new construction in W. Bank settlements By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: settlements, Israel  Israel has completely frozen all new construction in West Bank settlements, despite recent comments by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Israel would treat construction in the major settlement blocs differently from building in most settlements. Olmert has categorically denied approval for all new construction tenders, including in the so-called consensus settlement blocs, which Israel intends to keep in any future peace accord with the Palestinians. The freeze also applies to the construction of public institutions, including schools and kindergartens. Advertisement Olmert recently sent an official letter to relevant cabinet ministers instructing them to refrain from authorizing any construction in the West Bank without his and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's prior approval. Several days ago, the prime minister met with Ma'aleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel, who asked Olmert to approve several construction plans -including in the controversial E1 corridor linking Ma'aleh Adumim to Jerusalem. Olmert refused, saying the issue was sensitive in terms of relations with the United States and the Palestinian Authority. Kashriel also asked Olmert to approve tenders for the completion of the settlement's 07 neighborhood. Barak approved the construction during his term as prime minister, and the new neighborhood was to have a total of 3,500 housing units - 2,000 of which have been built and sold, and another 1,100 of which are currently under construction. Most of the units that are under construction have also been sold. The Housing Ministry was to issue tenders for the remaining 400 homes, but Kashriel says Olmert refused to approve the request. Kashriel also asked Olmert to authorize the construction of schools and kindergartens in the 07 neighborhood, but said this request was also denied. "I told the prime minister that I need another school and more kindergartens, by September, otherwise I'll bring the children to his office and they can study there," said Kashriel. Mayors and council chairmen in other consensus settlements have also reported a total freeze on construction in recent weeks, including Efrat in the Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem, as well as Ariel in the northern West Bank. Olmert has in the past defined those settlements as part of the consensus blocs, but is currently refusing to approve the construction of new housing units - including within the settlements' current urban boundaries. The prime minister has denied authorizations for the construction of schools and kindergartens in these settlements as well. According to information made public several days ago, Barak had ordered settlement construction frozen beyond the parameters set forward by Olmert. Among other things, the defense minister said his approval is even needed for the private purchase of a home that has already been built. Barak's order came against the backdrop of a bitter legal battle over settlers' purchase of the disputed "Peace House" in the divided West Bank city of Hebron. Yesha: No Israeli government has ever been so anti-settlements Yesha Council of Settlements Chiarman Danny Dayan said no Israeli government has ever taken such a hard-line stance against the settlement enterprise as the Olmert and Barak government. Dayan confirmed that the freeze has applied to the consensus blocs, which former prime minister Ariel Sharon said the U.S. had recognized. During an Ariel city council emergency held recently, Mayor Ron Nahman declared "an open war by the town of Ariel and its residents against the government of Israel and its head, Ehud Olmert." Nahman called Olmert's cabinet a destructive government that has "trampled civil rights in the State of Israel." Nahman said he will lead protests that will shut down Tel Aviv, if necessary. Some 18,000 people reside within the jurisdiction of the Ariel Regional Council, which formed a headquarters to lead the struggle against the settlement freeze. A joint forum of all West Bank local authority heads met for the first time several days ago, and also decided to launch a campaign against what they called "the While Paper policy of the Israeli government against its citizens," in reference to the British document that severely limited Jewish immigration to mandate-era Palestine. Related articles: PM: No West Bank construction without my prior approval Shmuel Rosner: The green line is turning red PA to U.S.: We'll accept nothing less than total settlement freeze Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Chancellor's visit Angela Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties. London paying Netanyahu says PR trip to U.K. wasn't funded by Israeli taxpayer.   1.   At least Norway was conquered,but Quisling Olmert doesn`t have 14:56  |  Absolute Sweden 24/01/08   2.   To Haaretz 15:06  |  Neil 24/01/08   3.   Ignore Building Freeze Olmert is a Traitor 15:15  |  Joe Klien 24/01/08   4.   Olmert - go to Paris - join your son 15:17  |  Jewish State 24/01/08   5.   West Bank Settlement Construction Freeze 15:20  |  Chris 24/01/08   6.   is this a red line for SHAS? 15:21  |  joe 24/01/08   7.   "Olmert refused, saying the issue was sensitive..." 15:22  |  bat yam 24/01/08   8.   Judea and Samaria belong to Israel since ancient time 15:26  |  Brod 24/01/08   9.   This Is A Positive Development 15:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 24/01/08   10.   anti-semites and israel harters 15:28  |  al 24/01/08   11.   Jewish State, Just Get Used to it 15:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 24/01/08   12.   Words are not actions, especially in Israel 15:46  |  Natallie Durson 24/01/08   13.   Possible prelude to Winograd report? 15:51  |  common sense 24/01/08   14.   #7 It`s you who must "get used",Yakoub Suleiman 15:56  |  Hastaroth 24/01/08   15.   What Brod says #6 16:04  |  Esther 24/01/08   16.   Finally...Let`s hope this is permanent 16:05  |  Ibrahim 24/01/08   17.   Pals just using "peace talks" as excuse to freeze settlements 16:06  |  Sam 24/01/08   18.   Catholic offal like Paddy Sullivan can`t get used to the Jewish S 16:14  |  Absolute Sweden 24/01/08   19.   "The West Bank settlement of Ma`aleh Adumim" 16:20  |  Neil 24/01/08   20.   Cosy living on the settlements... 16:20  |  Esther 24/01/08   21.   More Israeli Irony 16:26  |  Norman F Birnberg 24/01/08   22.   #8 Natalie Durson 17:02  |  Boycott 24/01/08   23.   To Reb Yaakov Sullivan 17:04  |  Ralph Houk 24/01/08   24.   The Good doctor Sterilizing the Jews 17:05  |  B 24/01/08   25.   It is obvious that Abbas threatened Olmert to 17:09  |  Akram Zekaria 24/01/08   26.   Things to get over 17:37  |  Murray 24/01/08   27.   freeze useless without enforcement 17:39  |  Jeff 24/01/08   28.   #8 and #10 are idiots 17:39  |  Gili 24/01/08   29.   Words are not actions, especially in Palestine 17:43  |  Joe Sittizen 24/01/08   30.   Possible Olmert gambit in prelude to Winograd report? 17:52  |  common sense 24/01/08   31.   Olmert and construction 17:54  |  Edifice 24/01/08   32.   All settlements must go! jews who want to live in Palestine can 17:55  |  lakshmi 24/01/08   33.   Sullivan #7 18:01  |  Brod 24/01/08   34.   EVERYBODY TAKE NOTE: 18:09  |  Rozz 24/01/08   35.   Ehud Olmert - Right-wing Israel 5 - 0 18:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/01/08   36.   We will see how Olmert and Barak 18:18  |  Kris 24/01/08   37.   That`s more easy than to stop Kassams !? 18:19  |  Michael 24/01/08   38.   IT`S ABOUT TIME - Plenty of room in the Galil and Negev Folks! 18:21  |  B`Galil 24/01/08   39.   EVERYBODY TAKE NOTE. cont`d. 18:24  |  Rozz 24/01/08   40.   Brod #20 18:25  |  Space 24/01/08   41.   Olmert not serious, that`s why Lieberman & Shas still in coaliton 18:33  |  Yariv 24/01/08   42.   Olmert 18:33  |  Mark Spund 24/01/08   43.   Ibrahim-The Gentleman 18:38  |  Honest Observation 24/01/08   44.   lakshmi #32 18:46  |  Space 24/01/08   45.   Who turned on the lights? 18:50  |  Danite 24/01/08   46.   VICIOUS Ethnic Jew Cleansing. WAR on ISRAEL REWARDED (1) 18:54  |  Linda Rivera 24/01/08   47.   Incorrect.. 19:12  |  Vital 24/01/08   48.   VICIOUS Ethnic Jew Cleansing. WAR on ISRAEL REWARDED (2) 19:12  |  Linda Rivera 24/01/08   49.   Jew-HATERS WICKED LIE of Occupation. Return STOLEN JEWISH LAND 19:16  |  Linda Rivera 24/01/08   50.   To Reb Ralph Houk from Efrat 19:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 24/01/08   51.   Jew-HATERS DECEIVE for Expansionist Islam. Already ARAB Pal State 19:24  |  Linda Rivera 24/01/08   52.   C`mon, it`s good news 19:31  |  Outsider 24/01/08   53.   Chris you sound like our friendly neighbors! NOT. 19:44  |  Avi 24/01/08   54.   Hey Lakshmi....all I can say to you is.... 19:52  |  Jordan 24/01/08   55.   Yariv-Olmert holding on to coalition while hoping Pals compromise 20:00  |  Sam 24/01/08   56.   Re Ya`akov #9 20:04  |  Esther 24/01/08   57.   #12 Natalie Durson 20:18  |  Michael 24/01/08   58.   SETTLEMENT SHOULD CONTINUE, EVEN ACCELERATE 20:28  |  Stephen Connor 24/01/08   59.   This is what Olmert really said: 20:30  |  Esra 24/01/08   60.   It`s just PR for Davos 20:37  |  Dovy 24/01/08   61.   Is this sufficient ? will it help ? 20:38  |  Altalena 24/01/08   62.   A Question for Neil about segregation 20:39  |  Stephen Connor 24/01/08   63.   TO Linda Rivera #48 20:41  |  Steve Beikirch 24/01/08   64.   Jews not Allowed 20:44  |  Zev 24/01/08   65.   Lakshmi and the perils of the ideologue 20:46  |  Stephen Connor 24/01/08   66.   TO BOYCOTT #22 - The truth 20:56  |  Steve Beikirch 24/01/08   67.   Linda Rivera and contemptible incitement 21:01  |  Stephen Connor 24/01/08   68.   Zev - silly and inflamatory 21:03  |  Stephen Connor 24/01/08   69.   Olmert/Barak BOW LOW to AMERICA & Expansionist Global ISLAM 21:05  |  Linda Rivera 24/01/08   70.