Sharon Denies West Bank Settlement Plan as Four Palestinians Die in Gaza Blast

05/09/2005| IslamWeb

Israel has moved swiftly to quash a new row over its settlements, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office slapping down a minister who announced plans to build thousands of homes in the West Bank.

The Palestinians accused Israel of wrecking US President George Bush's two-state vision for the Middle East after deputy defence minister Zeev Boim on Monday said 3000 housing units would be built in the northern settlement of Ariel.

But Sharon's office issued a statement denying that any such plans, which would be in direct contravention of the internationally-drafted "roadmap" peace plan, were on the table.

The official said only that plans had previously been approved for little more than 100 new homes in Ariel, about 20km inside the Palestinian territory.

Sharon, under fire from his traditional right-wing supporters for pulling settlers out of the Gaza Strip, has said that he planned to "continue and develop" Israel's settlement programme in the West Bank and keep hold of the largest settlements such as Ariel.

But he has been rebuked on a number of occasions by Washington after announcing plans to expand other West Bank settlements.

A new row over settlements so close to his trip next week to New York where he is to attend the annual UN General Assembly could have taken much of the gloss off what the prime minister hopes will be a chance to milk plaudits over his historic evacuation from Gaza and a corner of the West Bank.

Ariel is arguably the most controversial of all Israel's West Bank settlements as it is so far within the territory that it should form the bulk of the Palestinians' promised future state.

Palestinians furious

The Palestinians reacted furiously to Boim's declaration, saying it wrecked Bush's two-state vision for the Middle East as laid down in the roadmap.

The roadmap was launched more than two years ago but has made little progress since, with the Israelis and Palestinians each accusing the other of violating its terms.

Boim's announcement on the plans for Ariel undermined some of the optimism engendered by signs that a deal was close at hand in a dispute over the future access of civilians and goods in and out of Gaza after Israel's departure.

The day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope that a deal on one of the most contentious of the issues dividing the two sides would be resolved "very soon", a close aide to Sharon also said a compromise was in sight.

The official said Israel would insist on carrying out checks on merchandise coming into Gaza from Egypt but indicated a willingness to allow civilians to cross with checks by the Palestinian authorities provided they were credible.

Four Palestinians Die in Gaza Blast

An explosion has destroyed a house in Gaza City, killing four and injuring at least 30 others, residents and officials said.

It was not clear what caused the blast after nightfall on Monday in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood, near the border with Israel. The house belonged to a well-known family of Hamas supporters, the residents said.

Three nearby buildings were set on fire, rescue workers said.

Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa called the blast "mysterious" and said security officers were investigating.
The Israeli military said it had nothing to do with the blast.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinians inspect the damage in a house after an explosion in Gaza September 5,2005. (Reuters)