Israeli Settlement Blow to Road Map

The annoucement, coming after US President George Bush said that the peace plan was working, drew criticism from Washington. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher stated that it was contrary to the terms of the ‘road map’ for Israel to build settlements on Palestinian soil, and that the US was discussing the issue with Israel.

The so-called Road Map to Peace, prepared by the US, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations, suggests that Israel remove settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, Israel’s Defense Ministry yesterday approved the construction of 22 new houses in the West Bank settlement of Neveh Dekalimin.

Offering the first Palestinian reaction to the announcement, Palestinian Deputy Saib Erekat said, “This a big challenge to everything that the peace process has built. Israel still insists on damaging the road map because they prefer houses to peace.”

Foreign News Services / Istanbul / TURKEY