U.S. team to set limits on settlement construction

[Gimel]

The U.S. administration is establishing a team of experts that will conduct negotiations with Israel concerning demarcation of the boundaries of construction in the West Bank, with the purpose of limiting settlement expansion. The team will begin its work in a few weeks after Israel gathers all relevant data, according to an agreement reached between senior American and Israeli officials.

The U.S. would like to see land reserves kept for the future Palestinian state. It has therefore demanded that Israel vacate outposts and freeze construction in older settlements. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has pledged that construction will continue only within areas that are already built up, and therefore there will be no expansion of settlements.

The establishment of the team shows that the Bush administration has decided to deal seriously and in detail with the issue of construction in the settlements, and to manage talks on the issue from Washington.

The limitation on building in the settlements will have a powerful impact on the agenda of the West Bank, because the discussions with the Americans will determine the future borders of that region. Israel wants to focus first on the isolated settlements and to postpose discussion on the larger settlement blocs, which it sees as slated for annexation in a later agreement.

More..

[theivoryqueen]

1. Crazy weird - what are we doing setting Israeli policy

when we are still pretty much discombobulated on our own?

[FascistAdder]

2. Maybe they read my message finally,...

I sent a letter saying that they absolutely had to begin work on reigning in the settlement business. I say support Israel if one must but lets at least get them to behave themselves and rise above the terrorist crowd.

[Aidoneus]

3. Will you accuse them of genocide?

[Gimel]

4. To whom are you speaking?

And why should anyone do such a thing?

[Aidoneus]

5. Do you not recognize your own line?

[Aidoneus]

6. it is perhaps so..

that my memory for the obscure is a little too remarkable.. :shrug:

[Gimel]

7. The goal

is not to forbid natural growth, but to work together for reasonable goals. Read the article.

[bigbillhaywood]

8. Interesting, I will withhold comment until I see what unfolds, but I am

suspicious of any Bush foreign policy initative. You should be too, Gimel. Let's not forget DU is a site 100% opposed to the Bush Administration.