Sharon: U.S. Settlement Policy Is Clear
AP
Date: 03-27-05
By PETER ENAV, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) told his Cabinet on Sunday there is no need to clarify U.S. policy on Jewish settlements, saying Washington supports Israel's retention of West Bank blocs as part of a final Mideast agreement but opposes continued settlement building at this time.
On Friday, a major commotion over U.S. settlement policy erupted after the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper quoted the American ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, as saying there was no understanding between the United States and Israel over future control of settlement blocs.
Kurtzer denied the report and referred to President Bush (news - web sites)'s statement last April supporting Israel's retaining major Israeli population centers in the West Bank under a final peace deal. Bush issued that statement after Sharon publicized his plan for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites).
"The Americans are in favor of keeping the settlement blocs and there is a clear understanding about this," Sharon told his Cabinet.
"The Americans have always criticized settlement building efforts and they are doing it now. Whoever thinks you can get the Americans to say they are in favor of building in the settlements, you can't do this. They have been opposed to this since 1968."
Sharon accused unidentified ministers of twisting Kurtzer's words in an effort to bring down his government as it plans to carry out the pullout from Gaza and four small West Bank settlements this summer.
"This was an attempt to bring down the government," Sharon said. "What worries me is that people are ready to sacrifice Israel's strategic interests with the U.S. for the benefit of personal interests."
He did not identify the ministers he believed were behind the leak. The newspaper report was based on a Foreign Ministry document. At the meeting, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom criticized the leak and said he was willing to be investigated as its possible source.
While the United States reaffirmed its policy on the settlement blocs, it remains at odds with Israel over plans to build 3,500 new homes in Maaleh Adumim, the biggest Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
The project is especially contentious because it would link the settlement to eastern Jerusalem, separating Arab neighborhoods of the city from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said in an interview Friday that the expansion of the settlement is "at odds with American policy."
Source
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