MIDDLE EAST: A senior Israeli cabinet minister said yesterday Israel should exploit a "window of opportunity" created by its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to build up West Bank settlements, even in the face of US objections.
"I'll say this clearly: We are a sovereign nation. The great United States is our friend, but there are times when we have to say, even to the United States, that we will act in accordance with our interests," said Education Minister Limor Livnat, who is a member of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's ruling Likud party.
"We should demand of the Americans that they do not pressure us on this matter."
Ms Livnat made her remarks in a radio interview against the backdrop of growing reports that Israel plans to build in the West Bank in the wake of its Gaza pull-out. Mr Sharon's office has denied reports that the government planned to build a further 3,000 housing units in the settlement of Ariel - a move that would almost double the size of the settlement. Defence ministry sources said yesterday the green light had been given for the construction of 117 new units in Ariel.
Referring to the reports, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said "we have 3,000 more obstacles to peace and we will have, if this programme is carried out, 3,000 reasons to undermine President Bush's efforts for a two-state solution".
Ms Livnat said Israel should build in and around the major West Bank settlement blocs, including in the controversial E1 area that would link the largest settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim to Jerusalem. The plan has been criticised by the US as prejudicing the outcome of final status negotiations with the Palestinians.
The education minister also pointed to Mr Bush's declaration in April 2004 that "new realities on the ground [ in the West Bank], including already existing major [ Israeli] populations centres", cannot be ignored in negotiations. "Implicit in this," she said, "is the necessity and acceptability of building up the settlement blocs, though this may not have been said explicitly by the US administration."
Mr Sharon has repeatedly said that major settlement blocs, where most of the 240,000 West Bank settlers live, will remain under Israeli control in any final settlement. On Monday night, he reportedly told a gathering of mayors from his Likud party: "Settlement continues there and will continue." He also said there will be no futher withdrawals.