Israels FM defends illegal settlement expansion plans

4/9/2005 6:45:00 PM GMT

Foreign minister Silvan Shalom defended Israel's plans to expand one of the largest illegal settlements in the West Bank Saturday. Shalom's comments come one day after President Bush said he would tell Israel to honor a pledge to halt such construction.

Bush said he would tell Sharon to adhere to obligations of the "road map" Mideast peace plan, which calls for a construction freeze on illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

"What I say publicly, I say privately. And that is, the 'road map' has clear obligations on settlements and that we expect the prime minister to adhere to those road map obligations," Bush told reporters on Air Force One Friday as he returned from the Vatican funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Israel insists it has the right to strengthen its existing illegal settlements and recently announced plans to build 3,500 housing units in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.

While Bush has said he expects Israel to retain some of the existing illegal settlements under a final agreement with the Palestinians, the United States says expansion projects threaten peace prospects.

The illegal Maaleh Adumim expansion is highly contentious as it would link it to east Jerusalem, separating Arab neighborhoods of the city from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem the capital of an independent state that includes the entire West Bank.

Asked whether the project violates the peace plan, Shalom said settlement expansions "never need to be done with drums and cymbals," but he indicated the government had no plans to reverse its plans.

"Essentially Israel views the settlement blocs as parts of Israel and, therefore, we stand by our opinion on this matter and I would say that our opinion is represented by most of the political streams in this country," he told Israel Radio.

"I'm sure that if this issue is brought up (by Bush), (Sharon) will make his position clear, which is that the settlement blocks are a part of Israel. Between friends you can agree to disagree."

Israel Radio quoted senior diplomatic sources as saying Sharon would pledge to honor Israel's peace plan obligations regarding the settlements. In addition to the construction freeze, the plan calls on Israel to remove unauthorized settlement outposts in the West Bank.

Bush said he would discuss Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four small West Bank settlements this summer, and the need for Israel to coordinate the pullout with the Palestinians.

"Success in the Gaza will make success on the West Bank easier," the U.S. president said.

Israeli Deputy Premier Shimon Peres was in Washington this week to sound out U.S. officials on American financial support for the Gaza withdrawal.

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