Middle East: President George Bush has delivered an unusually stern public warning to Ariel Sharon against plans to expand Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank.
The censure, delivered on a visit yesterday to the presidential ranch that was to have been a reward for Israel's prime minister, was the strongest sign so far of Washington's concern that a settlement expansion could wreck Mr Bush's road map for Middle East peace.
"I told the prime minister of my concern that Israel not undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or prejudices final status negotiations," Mr Bush told reporters at his Crawford ranch in Texas.
"Therefore, Israel should remove unauthorised outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank."
The public call for a freeze arrived as a disappointment for Mr Sharon. Mr Bush privately voiced specific objections to a scheme to expand the Maaleh Adumim settlement, which would prevent an eventual Palestinian state from having a foothold in any part of Arab East Jerusalem.
Israeli officials had hoped that Washington would be too concerned with ensuring the planned evacuation of Jewish outposts from the Gaza Strip this summer to object to the construction plan.
However, Mr Bush softened the rebuke by reaffirming his promise to Mr Sharon of a year ago that Israel would not be compelled to stage a full withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders in an eventual settlement with the Palestinians, and would be able to retain some Jewish settlement blocs.
Yesterday was Mr Sharon's first visit to the retreat, although his 11th meeting with Mr Bush, and was planned to shore up his position against the Israeli right ahead of this summer's withdrawal from settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Sharon told NBC TV he feared for his personal safety, amid resistance by hardliners to the Gaza pull-out. - (Guardian service)