Construction in West Bank continues despite road map

Israel is continuing the construction in the West Bank, despite claims it is in violation of the road map.

The Israel Lands Administration (ILA) yesterday issued building tenders for 13 lots in Ma'aleh Adumim, while the Housing Ministry issued tenders for building infrastructures in Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim and Adam.

All the tenders are for construction in settlements located inside "settlement blocs," which, according to government policy, are to remain in Israeli control even after signing a peace agreement.

The Peace Now Movement issued a sharp protest against the construction and announced that the building was in violation of the road map.

Tenders have been issued for 315 housing units in the territories since the beginning of the year.

The most recent tenders were issued 24 hours after Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said "the settlement blocs will continue to be Israel's eastern border in the future."

On a tour of the West Bank on Wednesday, Mofaz promised that the area between Ma'aleh Adumim and Jerusalem would be built up, and that the cabinet would make a decision to that effect before the elections.

The council heads of the Efrat and Betar settlements told Mofaz that the fence was political and not a security route, and they asked that the route be altered in numerous places.

They also asked to replace several parts of the fence with other protection measures, such as electronic devices. Mofaz agreed to their request to change the fence route in several places in Gush Etzion.

However, the defense establishment insists on building the fence along the entire route.