NYT: First Settlement in 10 Years Fuels Mideast Tension

[FreeStateDemocrat]

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: December 27, 2006
JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 — Israel announced plans on Tuesday to construct a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank for the first time in 10 years, prompting Palestinian anger and American concern.

The announcement, by the Defense Ministry and settler groups, seemed to run counter to the prevailing effort by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who had offered a series of gestures to the Palestinians several days ago, after meeting with the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas.

Even before that meeting, Mr. Abbas was being criticized by his political rivals, Hamas, who preach Israel’s destruction, for carrying out what they called an Israeli and American agenda with little to show for it.

One Israeli official hinted that the new settlement might be part of a deal with Jewish settlers to get their tacit acceptance of the removal of illegal settlement outposts from the West Bank. (contd)


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/world/middleeast/27mideast.html?hp&ex=1167282000&en=890b02aafc8a9597&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[acmavm]

1. Oh yeah. Give them one illegal settlement to get 'em to agree

to quit bitchin' about having to give up other illegal settlements.

[maddezmom]

2. locking

Discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x161017