Egypt blasts Israel’s ‘new homes’

CAIRO – Egypt yesterday denounced as a provocation Israel’s approval for 600 new settlement homes to be built in the West Bank in defiance of the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan.

“Egypt strongly condemns the Israeli government’s decision to expand the Maale Adumim settlement,” said foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, who charged that the decision was part of an “Israeli policy of provocation”. Maale Adumim, the largest of the West Bank settlements situated close to Jerusalem, is home to 28 000 Jewish residents.The new units are expected to house a further 2 000.Abul Gheit described the plan as “a blatant violation of Israel’s commitments under its agreements (with the Palestinians), UN Security Council resolutions and the roadmap, which clearly calls for an end to settlement activities”.Under the terms of the roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to freeze all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories where around 245 000 Israelis live.The Egyptian minister welcomed Washington’s comments criticising the Israeli decision.The United States on Monday stressed that the roadmap “calls for an end to all settlement activities, including natural growth”.He also called on Washington “as sponsor of the peace process, to take concrete action, along with the quartet, to put a stop to this plan”.Apart from the United States, the diplomatic “quartet” for Middle East peace, co-authors of the roadmap, also comprises the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.- Nampa-AFPMaale Adumim, the largest of the West Bank settlements situated close to Jerusalem, is home to 28 000 Jewish residents.The new units are expected to house a further 2 000.Abul Gheit described the plan as “a blatant violation of Israel’s commitments under its agreements (with the Palestinians), UN Security Council resolutions and the roadmap, which clearly calls for an end to settlement activities”.Under the terms of the roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to freeze all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories where around 245 000 Israelis live.The Egyptian minister welcomed Washington’s comments criticising the Israeli decision.The United States on Monday stressed that the roadmap “calls for an end to all settlement activities, including natural growth”.He also called on Washington “as sponsor of the peace process, to take concrete action, along with the quartet, to put a stop to this plan”.Apart from the United States, the diplomatic “quartet” for Middle East peace, co-authors of the roadmap, also comprises the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.- Nampa-AFP