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Report: Settlement planned for Gush Katif evacuees likely to damage nature preserve By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Israekl travel  Establishing the Mirsham settlement in the Lachish Region for Gush Katif evacuees would cause irreversible damage to one of the nation's most significant nature preserves, writes regional planner Prof. Eli Stern in a position paper commissioned by the Interior Ministry. The ministry appointed Stern years ago to plan the entire area between Beit Shemesh and the Yatir hills as a "biosphere region," in which most of the land is set aside for a nature preserve. Stern wrote the paper with Nina Rabinovich, an architect in his firm, on the eve of Southern District Planning and Building Committee deliberations regarding the new settlement. Dudu Cohen, the Interior Ministry official responsible for the Southern District, commissioned the paper, which is based on information provided by the settlement's planners. Mirsham will include about 380 residential units in three neighborhoods in the Lachish Region. Advertisement Stern had prepared an Interior Ministry plan to develop a biosphere region, in which most of the land between Beit Shemesh and the Yatir hills would be preserved and existing communities expanded in keeping with the rules of nature and landscape preservation. Stern writes that the Mirsham settlement would compromise open space that had been previously been preserved. Planned construction for the settlement contradict established planning regulations for the biosphere region and involve massive groundwork and excavations. Moreover, the plan would mar vitally significant archaeological sites. The position paper concludes: "In light of findings which indicate that implementation of the plan would harm treasures of nature, landscape, and heritage, and in light of the plan's incompatibility with principles of a biosphere region, there is reason to reconsider establishment of the settlement." Related articles: Haaretz.com TV: Gov't far from finding solution for Gush Katif evacuees Two years later, Gush Katif evacuees still need housing New settlement planned for former Gaza settlers Bookmark to del.icio.us   Falk's folly Israel will refuse entry to the UN's Richard Falk for equating Israel to Nazi Germany. Peace when? After 30 years, the public has adopted Peace Now's views, but peace is still elusive.   1.   Israel`s inability to deal with the criminally insane 06:14  |  Mark Lincoln 08/04/08   2.   BUILD! BUILD! BUILD!! Unrestrained development 07:42  |  The Archives 08/04/08   3.   Bioshpere this 07:56  |  fancy 08/04/08   4.   who cares!! 08:29  |  sam 08/04/08   5.   Where are all the rescuers of endangered turtles now? 09:41  |  Andreas 08/04/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: I want the Palestinians to win Responses: 181 Evangelist to Yoffie: 'I'm not trying to undermine peace' Responses: 125 Moshe Arens: Making Palestine Judenrein Responses: 115 Vice PM: Ofra settlement homes built on private Palestinian land Responses: 111 Barghouti peace overture to be read at Peace Now rally Responses: 109 More Headlines 22:54 Complainant against Katsav seeks to reenter rape charge in new indictment 19:01 Katsav accuser: Decision to drop plea deal stems from denial 01:20 IDF home front chief: Israelis ready to meet any threats 02:21 IDF begins clearing out West Bank settlements' armories 01:48 Israel to deny UN official entry for comparing Israel to Nazis 21:14 Peace Now: Our views are now mainstream but peace still elusive 20:56 Anaylsis: All outcomes possible in Katsav sex crimes case 20:49 Tunnel meant for terrorist infiltration found in N. Gaza 22:19 Interior Ministry, Finance Ministry employees to strike Wednesday 20:40 Strikes cost Israeli economy over 2.5 million workdays in 2007 Previous Editions Select Day 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar

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