Israel to Build 1,000 New Housing Units in West Bank
The Associated Press
Published: Aug 17, 2004
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel invited bids for the construction of some 1,000 homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an official said, in direct violation of a U.S.-backed peace plan calling for a settlement freeze.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had temporarily suspended the bids, asking that construction plans be checked - a decision seen, in part, as an attempt to defuse tensions with the United States over continued settlement expansion.
The bids, reissued Tuesday, are for units in six West Bank settlements - Karnei Shomron, Ariel, Geva Benyamin, Maaleh Adumim, Kiryat Arba and Beitar Illit - said Housing Ministry spokesman Kobi Bleich said.
Bleich said all the settlements were within "the Israeli consensus," meaning these are settlements Israel hopes to annex in a future peace deal.
Under the provisions of the U.S.-backed "road map" for Middle East peace, Israel must halt all construction in West Bank settlements.
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