Israel Adds to Plans for More Housing Units in Settlements

[Selwynn]

ERUSALEM, Aug. 23 - Israel plans to rezone land within existing settlements to allow for the construction of 533 more housing units, most of them close to Jerusalem, Israeli officials said Monday.

The announcement came a week after the government issued tenders for the construction of 1,001 new housing units on the West Bank and said it was planning to issue tenders for another 633 units, though it has not yet done so. Together with the new units from rezoning, this would amount to 2,167 permits to build dwellings beyond Israel's 1967 boundaries.

...

The announcements came after the United States signaled that it would accept housing growth within the boundaries of existing settlements. The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League say such expansion would be a direct violation of Israel's agreement in 2001 to freeze all settlement activity, including "natural growth."

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian spokesman, said, "If this land grab continues, the question that is asked is where will the Palestinian state be established?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/24/international/middleeast/24mideast.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=

[shadu]

1. The US should bombing those 'settlements'

Give the builders fair warning- then bomb those buildings
before they even are buildings.
Then the world would know the US is committed
to a just peace in the Middle East.

[babylon_system]

2. The occupation is finded by US taxpayers

Justice and peace in the Mideast has never been the US goal.

[The Sushi Bandit]

3. Bush is turning a blind eye to it all

that fucker