Sharon Approves New Jewish Settlements in Palestine

The settlements will reportedly be built in the seven regions of the West Bank that Sharon has previously said Israel would never relinquish. Sharon approved the project before the Likud Party Convention, leading some observers to comment that this move will strengthen Sharon’s political hand.

The Palestinian administration on the other hand evaluated Sharon’s decision to proceed with the West Bank constructions as a "burial of the Road Map".

Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz green lighted the construction of 600 settlements in Maale Adumim on August 2. Sharon wants to reinforce certain areas where the majority of the 240,000 West Bank settlers live. At the same time he is offering to evacuate 21 settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank.