Olmert to ministers: No settlement construction without my authorization

Ahead of President Bush's scheduled visit to the region, PM sends letter to agriculture, housing ministers saying any new construction, expansion or confiscation of land in West Bank must receive his and Barak's approval
Roni Sofer

In a letter addressed to Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon and Minister of Housing and Construction Ze'ev Boim, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that all construction plans for settlements in the West Bank must receive his authorization and the approval of Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

"Any new construction, expansion, confiscation of land, the issuing of housing tenders and all other acts related to the Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria will not be advanced or carried out without authorization," the prime minister said in the letter.

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Sources in the PM's Office said the letter came as a follow-up to the government's announcement from November 19, 2007 regarding Israel's commitment to freeze all construction in the West Bank as specified by the US-backed Road Map for peace initiative.

However, Olmert further stated that the guidelines "do not diminish the military's authority to take necessary action in order to maintain public order and security".

In distributing the letter Olmert essentially succumbed to US-led international pressure that was exerted on him following the publication of Israel's plan to build 307 housing units in the southeastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa.

President George W. Bush's upcoming visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority also played a part in Olmert's decision to draft the letter at this time.