Israel to expand four West Bank settlements

The unannounced measure marks the first time that the new Defence Minister Amir Peretz has authorised the construction work in the territory that Palestinians see as an integral part of their promised future state.

The approval orders, which were formally signed by the central region's commander General Yair Naveh at the behest of Peretz Sunday, will allow for further construction work at the settlements of Beitar Eilit, Givat Zeev, Maskiot and Oranit.

While the new government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning to pull out of dozens of remote settlements, it intends to cement control over larger settlements such as the four earmarked for expansion and which are home to the vast majority of the quarter of a million Jewish settlers.

The expansion of Beitar Eilit, situated close to Jerusalem, should see the settlement connected with the holy city which the Palestinians also want as the capital of their independent state.

Although the defence ministry did not comment on the report, the anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now demanded that Peretz, leader of the centre-left Labour party, scrap his decision.

"The government cannot secretly decide to expand these settlements," said Peace Now secretary general Yaariv Oppenheimer.

Under the terms of a internationally backed peace plan known as the roadmap, Israel is meant to freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank.

The blueprint has made no progress since its launch three years ago and Israel says it will not be bound by its commitments until the Palestinians put a halt to attacks.

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