Government issues tenders for 164 new homes in the West Bank

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The government is planning to build 164 new homes in three settlements in the West Bank, despite an obligation under a U.S.-backed peace road map to halt such construction on land Palestinians seek for a state.

The Israel Lands Administration, a government agency, issued a tender inviting bids on 88 plots in the Ariel settlement, 56 in Alfei Menashe and 20 in Karnei Shomron.

Israel's Peace Now settlement watchdog criticized the move. "This tender hurts the interests of the state of Israel. It is a provocative step which goes against the majority of the Israeli public," said Mossi Raz, a senior member of the group.

The latest tender follows one published on September 4 to build 690 new homes in the settlements of Maaleh Adumim and Beitar Ilit, the largest number of housing bids for settlement building offered since Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took office in May.

Haaretz

[The Magistrate]

1. Stupid And Unhelpful, That, My Friend

This sort of thing needs to stop. It is the rough equivalent on the Israeli side of the actions of the Arab Palestinian militant bodies, in that it is pointlessly provocative, self-destructive, and counter-productive, absolutely incompatible with the long term interests of the people and the state.

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2. While the piece includes some extenuating commentary at the end,

you are right, it is foolish, even if one considers that it is allowed, and more foolish if one considers that it is illegal.

[The Magistrate]

3. In This Matter, Sir

The "well, they haven't complied either" arguement holds no weight with me. The Israeli governmentcould freeze settlement ex[ansion with a stroke of a pen; dis-banding the militant bodies of Arab Palestine cannot be done by the stroke of a pen. In a matter like the 242 Resolution, of considerably greater moment, that non-compliance is widespread and symettrical, does matter, but it does not here.

[breakaleg]

4. This makes no sense. Clearly they do have US support or they

wouldn't proceed, although the US will never admit that.