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Last update - 07:54 24/05/2008
Israeli settlement expansion can't be justified, French FM says
By News Agencies
Tags: Bernard Kouchner 

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Friday criticized ongoing Israeli settlement construction, and added that Israel can do more to lift restrictions on Palestinian movement.

"Nothing justifies the settlement expansion which constitutes an impediment to peace, as well as an obstacle obstructing the development of the Palestinian economy," Koucher told delegates at the closing session of a Palestinian investors' conference in Bethlehem.

Government spokesman Mark Regev said settlement construction continues only in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, which Israel does not consider settlements, and inside large West Bank settlement blocs that Israel intends to retain in any final peace accord.
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Kouchner also said Israeli restrictions on Palestinian mobility remain significant. "Israel should and can exert more efforts [to ease the restrictions]without endangering security," he said.

Regev said that was what Israel was trying to do. "That's our challenge: To take down roadblocks, to try to create greater movement and access for Palestinians while maintaining security," he said.

The French foreign minister met on Thursday with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni before heading to the West Bank for talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Kouchner said late Thursday after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's chief negotiator Ahmed Qureia, in Ramallah that not enough progress had been made since Israel and the Palestinians launched peace talks in November.

He said, however, that he was was hopeful a Gaza truce could provide momentum for talks with the Palestinian Authority.

"There is this good atmosphere ... in Lebanon, as well as with Syria and also in Gaza," Kouchner said, adding that he believed he had seen goodwill among Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.

Livni told Kouchner during their talks eatlier Thursday that world governments must shun Hamas, adding that the foiled suicide bombing at a Gaza crossing that day showed that the Islamist movement was not interested in improving the plight of Palestinians.

Kouchner said in a radio interview Monday that France had been in touch with Hamas over several months, but the contacts did not amount to relations or negotiations. He did not detail the substance of those contacts with Hamas, which rejects Israel's existence.

Israel, the United States and the international community have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization, and Washington delivered a swift rebuke after Kouchner's revelation, with the State Department saying the contacts were not wise or appropriate.

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      1.   What about population growth? 11:58  |  Gershon Reed 23/05/08
      2.   Ouch! Who let the dogs out!? 12:18  |  Natallie Durson 23/05/08
      3.   Arab expansion 12:22  |  Uzi 23/05/08
      4.   Mr Kouchner and EU 12:24  |  Ray 23/05/08
      5.   Palestinian Mobility - Of course, why not 14:10  |  * BEN JABO 23/05/08
      6.   "Nothing can justify Israeli settlement expansion" 14:25  |  Esther 23/05/08
      7.   # Ray. Let me shed a ray of light to you. Part !. 14:26  |  Stephen. 23/05/08
      8.   # 4 OSAMA CHARGES ARABS W/ PALS PLIGHT. 14:29  |  petra 23/05/08
      9.   Mr. FM, I suggest you address yourself to the systematic attempt 14:30  |  Erez 23/05/08
      10.   French opinions are like,.......well, everyone has one 14:36  |  Gideon Reader 23/05/08
      11.   If Abbas can deliver peace why can`t he deliver Gaza truce? 14:38  |  r 23/05/08
      12.   # 4. Ray. Let me shed a ray of light. Part 2. 14:39  |  Stephen. 23/05/08
      13.   Stand up 14:43  |  martin 23/05/08
      14.   Mr. Bernard Kouchner should know. 14:46  |  Jean Van Daem 23/05/08
      15.   Re Gershon #1 14:50  |  Esther 23/05/08
      16.   Look who`s talking - big mouths! 14:52  |  Jason 23/05/08
      17.   Livni u are a populist pig 15:13  |  Fred 23/05/08
      18.   More Money Has Been Poured into the PA than... 15:32  |  Straight Talk 23/05/08
      19.   You know the awful truth, Israel? 15:37  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      20.   Kouchner has NO understanding of the situation! 15:37  |  redmike 23/05/08
      21.   so that is how is supposed to look a eventual futur Pal state? 15:37  |  fab 23/05/08
      22.   No Jews in Judea and Samaria = No peace 15:47  |  David 23/05/08
      23.   French can kiss my olive skinned hairy....moonface 16:01  |  spade 23/05/08
      24.   OT: Steve Ballmer not liked in Hungary 16:02  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      25.   What is wrong 16:15  |  Dav 23/05/08
      26.   THOUSANDS of Jews Maimed & MURDERED for WICKED LIE of Occupation 16:21  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08
      27.   Jew-HATERS DECEIVE for Expansionist Islam. Already ARAB Pal State 16:22  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08
      28.   Jew-HATERS WICKEDLY Ignore Justice for One Million JEWISH REFUGEE 16:23  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08
      29.   When Is RabidJew-HATER France SURRENDERING Half of THEIR Country 16:33  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08
      30.   HE TALKED TOUGH ON IRAN THEN, ON ISRAEL NOW 16:33  |  indrajaya 23/05/08
      31.   Expansion 16:47  |  Tug919 23/05/08
      32.   What occupation? 17:00  |  Sam C 23/05/08
      33.   To Bernard Kouchner. 17:13  |  Vital 23/05/08
      34.   No Jews in Judea and Samaria = No Peace 17:33  |  David 23/05/08
      35.   Re Esther #15 18:24  |  Gershon Reed 23/05/08
      36.   To Mr Kouchner: Settlements are justified 18:29  |  Altalena 23/05/08
      37.   HERZEL`S WORDS LIVE, ZIONISM LIVES 18:31  |  Jorge 23/05/08
      38.   # 25 sam from tennessee 18:42  |  Axel 23/05/08
      39.   # 32 vital 18:49  |  Axel 23/05/08
      40.   # 20 redmike 18:54  |  Axel 23/05/08
      41.   Also, Nothing Unjustified About Building Within Settlements 19:04  |  JP 23/05/08
      42.   RIGHT ON! Israel does not want peace, hence, it builds 19:17  |  Shylock 23/05/08
      43.   To Axel in Germany. Civil rights 19:22  |  Altalena 23/05/08
      44.   French FM: Nothing can justify.. 19:24  |  gilboy 23/05/08
      45.   # 13 martin 19:35  |  Axel 23/05/08
      46.   Linda Rivera - Who are you to say? 19:52  |  Israeli 23/05/08
      47.   To Axel - no to political extremism. 20:04  |  Vital 23/05/08
      48.   The crazy & rabid zionists will create war before giving up land 20:15  |  POP 23/05/08
      49.   Hey Kouchney - how about "liberating" Corsica and Brittney? 20:23  |  not a french liar 23/05/08
      50.   David 20:28  |  Dave Duncan 23/05/08
      51.   Settlements 20:33  |  Herbert Rubin, M.D. 23/05/08
      52.   For Israeli # 44 21:11  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      53.   #42 - Gilboy - Likewise, I`m sure 21:18  |  JP 23/05/08
      54.   Question for Herbert Rubin # 48 21:22  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      55.   # 45 vital 21:34  |  Axel 23/05/08
      56.   IT`S THE WATER, STUPID 21:35  |  Arik Silverman 23/05/08
      57.   To Stephen 21:39  |  Joe 23/05/08
      58.   #44 Israeli I will NEVER stop believing in HUMAN RIGHTS for Jews 22:00  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08
      59.   Its not Jewish building that interferes 22:03  |  Realist 23/05/08
      60.   # 41 altalena 22:13  |  Axel 23/05/08
      61.   1st Response 23:01  |  Jim 23/05/08
      62.   2nd Response 23:07  |  Jim 23/05/08
      63.   3rd Response 23:09  |  Jim 23/05/08
      64.   #2 Natalie Durston 23:14  |  Jim 23/05/08
      65.   # 14 jean van daem the ultra-national mouthpiece 23:46  |  Axel 23/05/08
      66.   For Israeli, on "Linda Rivera`s" response # 58 23:49  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      67.   #9 Erez 23:50  |  Jim 23/05/08
      68.   #10 Gideon Reader 23:56  |  JIm 23/05/08
      69.   #14 Jean Van Daem, the revisionist 00:13  |  Jim 24/05/08
      70.   Re Gershon #35 00:23  |  Esther 24/05/08
      71.   gershon reed 1 00:31  |  potobac 24/05/08
      72.   French 00:38  |  David 24/05/08
      73.   Axel # 32 00:41  |  Darrin 24/05/08
      74.   Re Altalena #36 00:43  |  Esther 24/05/08
      75.   #18 Straight Talk 01:22  |  JIm 24/05/08
      76.   #20 redmike 01:50  |  Jim 24/05/08
      77.   # 64 darrin 01:57  |  Axel 24/05/08
      78.   #21 fab 02:00  |  Jim 24/05/08
      79.   #56 Arik 02:04  |  * BEN JABO 24/05/08
      80.   #35 Gershon Reed 02:09  |  Jim 24/05/08
      81.   And who is Clickfool?.... 02:14  |  Zvi 24/05/08
      82.   Sam C - If no occupation then hostages 02:52  |  ME 24/05/08
      83.   illegal building 03:29  |  david 0 24/05/08
      84.   aliyah 03:42  |  david 0 24/05/08
      85.   To 55 Axel . Estimation of integration. 12:35  |  Vital 24/05/08
      86.   # 85 vital 20:38  |  Axel 24/05/08
      87.   French FM Fingers Israel`s Festering Cancer 23:44  |  Ivar 24/05/08
      88.   #87 Ivar - Great work of fiction on your part 06:56  |  * BEN JABO 25/05/08
      89.   #88 *BEN JABO regurgitates the Hasbarah 13:07  |  Johnboy 29/05/08
      90.   Settlement expansion makes me sick 17:33  |  Lennart 04/06/08
      91.   But! 17:49  |  rigma 05/10/08
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    Responses: 40
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    Responses: 24
    ANALYSIS / IDF plans to use disproportionate force in next war
    Responses: 101
    Gideon Levy: Olmert has euthanized the Israeli right
    Responses: 45


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