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Housing Minister Zeev Boim. (Alon Ron) Last update - 23:11 14/05/2008 Report: PM promised to build 600 homes in W. Bank settlements By The Associated Press Tags: Ze'ev Boim, West Bank, Shas Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has promised to build about 600 housing units in contentious West Bank settlements, a political ally of the prime minister said Wednesday, adding new tensions to peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The announcement came shortly before U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Israel to take part in the Jewish state's 60th anniversary celebrations - and to try to nudge forward Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Palestinians want all of the West Bank as part of their future state. They oppose all Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, saying it undermines peace talks. Some 270,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements. Advertisement New settlement building could help the embattled Olmert keep his coalition together while police investigate corruption suspicions against him. But it would make it tougher for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convince his people that diplomacy, not violence, could win them a state. Bush's plane hadn't even landed before the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, a member of Olmert's coalition, affirmed that the prime minister had agreed to new construction in the Beitar Ilit settlement near Jerusalem. "I am happy that ... they will approve the construction," Shas Chairman Eli Yishai told Israel Radio. Another Shas official said Olmert told Yishai that construction would be approved early next week. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not been officially announced. Olmert spokesman Mark Regev disputed the Shas claim, saying no decision had been made on the project, though he did not rule it out in the future. Olmert has ordered the government to stop building new settlements, but has allowed construction to continue in existing communities such as Beitar Ilit. Shas has threatened to bolt the coalition and cost Olmert his parliamentary majority if the Israeli leader makes sweeping territorial concessions to the Palestinians. The latest gesture could help keep the party on his side as he fights for his political survival. There was no immediate reaction from visiting U.S. officials. The road map, a U.S.-backed peace blueprint that forms the basis of negotiations, obliges Israel to halt all settlement construction. But a 2004 letter from Bush to then- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appeared to support Israel's claim to keep some settlements. More recently, the Bush administration has criticized Israeli settlement construction announced since peace talks were relaunched last November, after a seven-year breakdown. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat denounced the latest report of construction plans. "It's Israeli settlements or peace," he said. "They can't have both." The two sides set a December target to clinch a deal. But both sides and the U.S. have cast doubt on whether that goal is realistic. Related articles: PM okays 750 new settlement homes, says fits state policy Official: East J'lem construction tenders now need Olmert's okay We heard you, Mr. Boim Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fear of extinction The state of over 20 species of birds in Israel has worsened considerably. Taking advantage Jerusalem police probe possible gang rape of disabled woman.   1.   Crazy things happen 09:28  |  Natallie Durson 14/05/08   2.   Shas building future homes for Palestinians 09:42  |  SJ 14/05/08   3.   1 10:10  |  Standing Bull.... 14/05/08   4.   Shas threatens, Shas talks 10:51  |  Concerned citizen 14/05/08   5.   We Will ALWAYS Build Here In OUR Land 11:19  |  Yishai Kohen 14/05/08   6.   New Buildings 12:55  |  Bezalel 14/05/08   7.   Bush is gonna love this...... 12:55  |  Johnboy 14/05/08   8.   YOUR land is in Europe, Russia!!! 13:14  |  raminPersianPride 14/05/08   9.   Shas has no excuse for propping up this evil coalition. 13:29  |  Chaim 14/05/08   10.   a New Law for the Jewish People 13:29  |  eddie 14/05/08   11.   no 8, raminPersianPride 14:20  |  Sam C 14/05/08   12.   It would be nice 15:09  |  Yonatan 14/05/08   13.   European Immigrants & land theft in the Middle East. 16:16  |  *BEN JABO 14/05/08   14.   If you want thousands of new homes leave the government 16:49  |  Gee 14/05/08   15.   These Houses Must Be Part of the Compensation Package 18:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 14/05/08   16.   Olmert the Optimist...... 18:39  |  charlie 14/05/08   17.   # 1 Natallie Durson 18:55  |  Cool B 14/05/08   18.   yishai 19:04  |  tim 14/05/08   19.   raminPersianPride # 8 - To the Pride of Persia 19:09  |  Dolly 14/05/08   20.   Tim: New York, Poland, And Russia Aren`t Ours 20:24  |  Yishai Kohen 14/05/08   21.   Every drop of Yosh is Israeli territory!!!! 20:47  |  Dr Eric 14/05/08   22.   If the arabs insist on 1967 borders- they`ll get nothing!!!1 20:51  |  Dr Eric 14/05/08   23.   jewish arabs www.nakba.org 21:30  |  monsour 14/05/08   24.   Build thousands more 21:54  |  Brod 14/05/08   25.   So much for Israel`s promises to Bush... 22:17  |  Silvienne 14/05/08   26.   To Yaacov Sullivan # 8 - Israel `ransacked houses 22:54  |  Dolly 14/05/08   27.   Re Yishai #20... and in general 23:02  |  Esther 14/05/08   28.   Olmert: we want to keep Jerusalem, NOT the WB-settlements! 00:05  |  AliciaYasmeen 15/05/08   29.   Its more likely 00:21  |  Realist 15/05/08   30.   #27 Esther. You can`t compare rich relatives with a Homeland. 00:29  |  Chaim 15/05/08   31.   Abbas will soon be gone 01:16  |  Harold 15/05/08   32.   #1 Natallie Drurson and homes for Palestinians 04:36  |  hala 15/05/08   33.   People all over the US and indeed the world are outraged 07:49  |  Dutch 20/05/08

Read & React Israel to Hezbollah: Forget Palestinian prisoners in swap for IDF soldiers Responses: 134 Bin Laden: All Muslims must help end Gaza siege Responses: 125 Obama urges settler policy change, recognition of Israel Responses: 85 Google founder: Anti-Semitism drove my family from Russia Responses: 84 MKs seek to strike Arabic as an official language of Israel Responses: 121 Rosner's Domain Harel & Issacharoff: Can Israel deter Hezbollah and Hamas? What makes Nancy Pelosi pro-Israeli? The hysteria over talking to Hamas (WTR) Poll: Was Bush attacking Obama? Israel, the largest Jewish ghetto? (WTR) More Headlines 06:51 Gaza cease-fire could take effect later this week 07:14 ANALYSIS: In Gaza conflict, Iran's fingerprints are everywhere 02:24 PA sources: Status of kidnapped soldiers delaying prisoner swap 07:58 McCain blasts Obama for saying Iran poses lesser threat than Soviets 07:23 Female corporal prevents suicide attack at checkpoint 07:29 Jerusalem, Petach Tikva ban 'Sex in the City' film adverts 07:30 New bill would sentence migrants and refugees to five years in jail 07:32 FM Livni to Pelosi: No peace agreement with PA likely in 2008 01:50 Israeli real estate cutthroats unite in New York-based business 00:52 What's green and makes electricity? An artificial leaf 04:52 There's gold in them thar garbage bags 02:37 Water shortages doom fruit orchards in Israel; prices expected to soar Previous Editions Select Day 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may

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