VIDEO - Israeli plans to build hundreds of homes in the West Bank and disputed east Jerusalem drew harsh Palestinian condemnation Sunday, just days before a visit by a US general to monitor the troubled peace process.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he had appealed to the Bush Administration to pressure Israel to halt the projects.
"Why do they insist on doing this and humiliating Abu Mazen in front of the Palestinian public?" he said, using the nickname of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas .
Video: Infolive.tv Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim said the new housing would include 350 apartments in Givat Ze'ev, a West Bank settlement just outside of Jerusalem, and 750 homes in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood of east Jerusalem.
Speaking to Israel Radio, Boim said the Givat Ze'ev construction initially began some eight years ago, but was suspended because of fighting with the Palestinians.
"When violence subsided, demand grew again and contractors renewed their permits to build there," he said. The Pisgat Ze'ev construction, he added, "is inside Jerusalem's city borders."
Furthermore, Boim plans to approve an additional three tenders for some 360 housing units in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa. "This in addition to the 307 units that have already been approved, and angered US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice," he told Ynet.
Responding to Palestinian officials' criticism over the expansion plans, Boim said: "Had it been up to the Palestinians, (the Jerusalem neighborhoods of) Gilo, Ramat Eshkol and Talpiyot would not have been built as well.
"According to my worldview, and to Kadima's platform, Israel is supposed to hold on to the settlement blocs. We are not Meretz that talks about a return to the 1967 borders. We will continue building in Ariel, Maale Adumim and Efrat. I think this is perfectly legitimate."
US envoy due Thursday
Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. It immediately annexed east Jerusalem and considers all of the city its capital. The annexation has not been recognized internationally.
The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem as parts of a future independent state. But Israel has said it wants to keep large settlement blocs, along with Jewish neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, under any final peace agreement.
The Givat Zeev construction "is consistent with our long-standing position that building within the large settlement blocs, which will stay a part of Israel in any final status agreement, will continue," said government spokesman Mark Regev said. Construction outside the settlement blocs has been frozen, he added.
On Thursday, a US envoy, Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, is scheduled to arrive in the region for his first joint meeting with Israelis and Palestinians.
President Bush appointed Fraser in January to monitor implementation of the US-backed "road map" peace plan — which among other measures calls on Israel to freeze all settlement activity. The plan also calls on the Palestinians to rein in militant groups — a step Israel says has not been fulfilled.
Roni Sofer contributed to the report
First published: 23:08, 03.09.8