Middle East Peace Process Dealt A Blow As Israel Gives Go-Ahead For 300 New Homes In West Bank

[Purveyor]

Hope earlier in the week that a decision to freeze the construction of new Israeli settler homes in the occupied West Bank could renew the moribund peace process were dealt a blow earlier today when it transpired that permission had been granted to build nearly 300 new houses close to the Palestinian administrative capital, Ramallah.

The announcement will disappoint Americans – especially the Secretary of State, John Kerry - who have spent two months attempting to broker a new deal between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships.

The Palestinians maintain a long held position that new talks are only possible with a new moratorium of settlement building. The Americans and Israelis say new talks should go ahead without pre-conditions. Settlements are considered illegal under international law.

Israel’s civil administration yesterday approved a plan to build 296 new houses in the settlement of Beit El. The scheme – which is the first settlement plan to be approved by Israel’s new government since it was sworn in in March - has already won approval from the Defence Minister, Moshe Ya’alon.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/middle-east-peace-process-dealt-a-blow-as-israel-gives-goahead-for-300-new-homes-in-west-bank-8609426.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Meanwhile...

Israel says Google 'Palestine' page damages prospects for peace

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"Israeli officials have reacted sternly to Google's decision last week to change the label on its home page in the occupied territories from "Palestinian territories" to "Palestine".

The deputy Israeli foreign minister, Zeev Elkin, said the move to recognize Palestine would backfire.

"I think that the Google decision from the last few days is very, very problematic," Elkin told Israel's Army Radio, according to Reuters. "When a company like Google comes along and supports this line, it actually pushes peace further away, pushes away negotiations, and creates among the Palestinian leadership the illusion that in this manner they can achieve the result."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/may/06/isreal-google-palestine-palestinian-territories