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| Anger at Israeli settlement plan | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel has officially approved the construction of more than 450 new homes in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli defence ministry has announced. | Israel has officially approved the construction of more than 450 new homes in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli defence ministry has announced. |
| This is the first new government-approved construction project in the West Bank since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power in March. | This is the first new government-approved construction project in the West Bank since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power in March. |
| It comes despite US pressure to halt settlement building. | |
| A senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the move "nullified" the effect of any future building freeze. | |
| Palestinians have ruled out resumption of peace talks with Israel until there is a complete halt to settlement construction. | |
| Mr Erekat said Israel's decision further undermined its credibility as a partner for peace. | |
| WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS Construction of settlements began in 1967, shortly after the Middle East WarSome 280,000 Israelis now live in the 121 officially-recognised settlements in the West BankA further 190,000 Israelis live in settlements in occupied East JerusalemThe largest West Bank settlement is Modiin Illit, where 38,000 people liveThere are a further 102 unauthorised outposts in the West Bank which are not officially recognised by IsraelThe population of West Bank settlements has been growing at a rate of 5-6% since 2001Source: Peace Now Obama's Mid-East plans in jeopardy | |
| "Israel's decision to approve the construction nullifies any effect that a settlement freeze, when and if announced, will have," Mr Erekat said. | "Israel's decision to approve the construction nullifies any effect that a settlement freeze, when and if announced, will have," Mr Erekat said. |
| "Given the choice between making peace and making settlements, they have chosen to make settlements," he added. | |
| Mitchell visit | |
| "Defence Minister Ehud Barak has authorised the construction of 455 housing units in settlement blocs," the Israeli defence ministry said in a statement. | "Defence Minister Ehud Barak has authorised the construction of 455 housing units in settlement blocs," the Israeli defence ministry said in a statement. |
| It updated its earlier statement that said Mr Barak had approved the building of 366 housing units. | It updated its earlier statement that said Mr Barak had approved the building of 366 housing units. |
| The homes will be built in six settlements - all of which are included in the settlement blocs that Israel wants to keep under any peace agreement, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper. | The homes will be built in six settlements - all of which are included in the settlement blocs that Israel wants to keep under any peace agreement, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper. |
| It says the settlements include Har Gilo, Modiin Illit and Ariel. | |
| Last week, Israeli officials announced that Mr Netanyahu would give the go-ahead for the new housing units. | Last week, Israeli officials announced that Mr Netanyahu would give the go-ahead for the new housing units. |
| The issue is expected to be discussed when Mr Netanyahu's aides meet US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, later this week. | The issue is expected to be discussed when Mr Netanyahu's aides meet US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, later this week. |
| BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says there is little doubt that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is feeling pressure from the settlers - who dismissed this latest approval to build as insultingly limited. | BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says there is little doubt that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is feeling pressure from the settlers - who dismissed this latest approval to build as insultingly limited. |
| But today's announcement can only complicate a possible resumption of meaningful peace talks with the Palestinians. | But today's announcement can only complicate a possible resumption of meaningful peace talks with the Palestinians. |
| "What Netanyahu is doing is clearly at the scale of a grand deception," said Fatah spokesperson Hanan Ashrawi. | |
| "He thinks that he can deceive the rest of the world... but what he is doing under a variety of pretexts is the continuation of settlements and at the same time demanding a price in return." | |
| The Americans, who are trying to broker new peace negotiations, have already expressed their displeasure, our correspondent says. | |
| They say they are trying to build credibility across the Middle East in a new Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The question for the US special envoy is whether he will, in the end, accept the Israeli version of a settlement freeze. | |
| Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. | Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. |
| Some 2,500 housing units are currently under construction. | Some 2,500 housing units are currently under construction. |
| The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. | The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. |