Israel-Palestine: Jerusalem is an apple of discord
10:36 2005-04-05
Ariel Sharon told the Israeli parliament yesterday that he would press ahead with the construction of thousands of homes to link one of the largest Jewish settlements with Jerusalem, despite US concern that it would jeopardise the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.
The Palestinian leadership says the plan to build 3,500 homes between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem is another step toward sealing off the city's Arab neighbourhoods from the rest of the West Bank.
Israel has already accelerated the construction of an 8 metre high concrete "security barrier", seized land and expanded other settlements.
Palestinians have accused Mr Sharon of using the political credit gained overseas for his unprecedented plan to remove Jewish settlers from the Gaza strip as a cover to consolidate Israel's grip on Arab East Jerusalem and prevent it from becoming the capital of a Palestinian state. Israel claims the entire city as its capital.
The prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, said he suspected Mr Sharon was trying to pre-empt negotiations about the future of the city. This could prove the single largest obstacle to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, because the Palestinians insist they will not relinquish their claim to East Jerusalem, publishes the Guardian Unlimited.
According to SF Gate, the withdrawal and relocation at an estimated cost of $1 billion of 1,600 Israeli families and the idea of building new homes on the West Bank are likely topics when President Bush holds talks at his Texas ranch next Monday with Sharon.
Herzog praised Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas but said he had not taken steps to disarm militants. "We are not seeing any action with respect to wanted terrorists," Herzog said.
At the same time, the housing minister said the pullout "could lead to bloodshed. It could lead to lunatic people firing at Israeli soldiers."
Also, Herzog said, Palestinian militants might be tempted to violence to make it appear Israel was being forced to withdraw from Gaza.
Earlier, Israeli deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert said Sharon was counting on Bush to keep his commitment that Israel can retain several large Jewish towns near Jerusalem as part of a peace accord with the Palestinians.
NR