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Last update - 17:05 18/05/2009
Israel begins new settlement, despite U.S. opposition
By Haaretz Service
Tags: West Bank settlements 

Israel has moved ahead with a plan to build a new settlement in the northern West Bank for the first time in 26 years, pursuing a project the United States has already condemned as an obstacle to peace efforts.

The move comes on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, despite Western calls for Israel to halt its settlement activity.

Tenders have been issued for 20 housing units in the new Maskiot settlement and contractors have arrived on site to begin foundation work.
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The initiative began three years ago, under the auspices of then-defense minister Amir Peretz, who promised to transform a former army outpost into a permanent settlement for evacuees from the Gaza Strip. The move was then frozen due to American insistence.

David Elhayani, head of the Jordan Valley regional council that oversees Maskiot, confirmed to Reuters he had issued the tender last week for contractors to launch infrastructure work.

"It's a process that will take months, to prepare infrastructure before we can build. We are proceeding in an orderly fashion," Elhayani said.

Elhayani insisted that the construction is being carried out completely legally.

"There is full consensus among Zionist parties that the Jordan Valley must remain under Israeli control within the framework of any diplomatic deal," he said. "The Jordan Valley is necessary for the sake of national security, and woe to the administration that strays from this path."

Nabil Abu Rudeinah, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the plan was a "message of defiance" from Israel to the Obama administration and its efforts to revive peace talks.

"This Israeli provocation demands a U..S response and a genuine and concrete pressure on Netanyahu that would guarantee a halt to all settlement activities," he said, charging that "continuation [of settlement building] would bring down and destroy the peace process."

"The Palestinian position is clear: There will be no resumption of peace talks as long as settlement building continues," Abu Rudeinah said.

The Peace Now movement called the move proof that "Netanyahu is not ready to commit to a two-state solution" and is striving to "prevent the creation of a Palestinian state."

"The way to do that is to built settlements and make all of us - Arabs and Jews - live in one state," said Peace Now chief Yariv Oppenheimer.

He alleged that settlers had deliberately timed publication of the tenders to focus a spotlight on the controversial issue during Netanyahu's talks with Obama.

The initial settlement plan was drawn up several years ago, Oppenheimer said. "But they brought developers there [Sunday] morning. The timing is significant."

The former U.S. administration of George W. Bush had termed the Maskiot project unhelpful. Washington has pressed Israel since 2006 to halt the project, which it says is in violation of the peace "road map" for a Palestinian state beside Israel
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  1.   "A matter of State security" 12:34  |  Matt 18/05/09
  2.   More settlement?? 12:36  |  Nabeel 18/05/09
  3.   In your face Obama!!!! 12:39  |  John Walker 18/05/09
  4.   Great! 12:43  |  Eli 18/05/09
  5.   land for peace 12:48  |  ecr 18/05/09
  6.   new settlement 12:51  |  phil 18/05/09
  7.   This is sheer madness 12:55  |  Fairplay 18/05/09
  8.   This should not be an Issue. 13:09  |  Levi 18/05/09
  9.   forget the excuses just keep building 13:12  |  harzion 18/05/09
  10.   We Will ALWAYS Build Here In OUR Land 13:13  |  Yishai Kohen 18/05/09
  11.   More Colonization 13:13  |  Scott G 18/05/09
  12.   encurage residents of tel aviv to move to the jordan valley 13:15  |  harzion 18/05/09
  13.   settlement in judea is preferable to the negev 13:17  |  harzion 18/05/09
  14.   maybe 100000 jews from new york would come to live in judea 13:20  |  harzion 18/05/09
  15.   Party is over, this is Obama`s test!! 13:33  |  Nour 18/05/09
  16.   Unemployment 13:34  |  ashamed 18/05/09
  17.   America 13:36  |  American lady 18/05/09
  18.   zionists want settlements not peace 13:37  |  muslim-- 18/05/09
  19.   But wait a second.... 13:38  |  ramin 18/05/09
  20.   Great timing, on the day Bibi meets Obama. 13:39  |  Michael 18/05/09
  21.   Baruch H` 13:39  |  Allon 18/05/09
  22.   ken yifrats veken yirbeh 13:56  |  E1000 18/05/09
  23.   "one man one vote"is the way forward 14:08  |  American 18/05/09
  24.   Thumbing your nose at the world 14:10  |  Rod 18/05/09
  25.   Settlers "R" Us 14:28  |  Husam 18/05/09
  26.   Our land- we build 14:29  |  JD 18/05/09
  27.   Israel gives Obama the finger. 14:37  |  Labhras 18/05/09
  28.   Fools... 14:45  |  Arik 18/05/09
  29.   well.... 14:46  |  rm 18/05/09
  30.   Proportional Representation 14:47  |  Shai 18/05/09
  31.   A sign to the Arabs to pack their bags 15:01  |  Ze`ev 18/05/09
  32.   #4 - listen to what #3 is saying 15:02  |  Noah 18/05/09
  33.   Peace now, war in five seconds! Hooray for Oppenheimer! 15:06  |  Ethan 18/05/09
  34.   1 State Solution. 15:14  |  Confused 18/05/09
  35.   Is it that DIFFICULT to say NO to the SETTLERS movements. 15:21  |  Joshua 18/05/09
  36.   What is the meaning of being a settler? 15:25  |  Jean Van Daem 18/05/09
  37.   #6 15:30  |  Eve 18/05/09
  38.   #1 "One man one vote". 15:35  |  John Allen 18/05/09
  39.   despite obama? jajajaj 15:37  |  Ivan 18/05/09
  40.   THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE WITH OBAMA-BIBI MEETING 15:39  |  indrajaya 18/05/09
  41.   #6 Arik. If you want peace............ 15:42  |  John Allen 18/05/09
  42.   It is Israel`s Land 15:43  |  Brod 18/05/09
  43.   Illegal and immoral...like the Nazi annexations 15:47  |  Ari 18/05/09
  44.   Peace now, war in five seconds! Hooray for Oppenheimer! 15:47  |  Ethan 18/05/09
  45.   #2 Rod in Australia. 15:48  |  John Allen 18/05/09
  46.   Peace now, war in five seconds! Hooray for Oppenheimer! 15:51  |  Ethan 18/05/09
  47.   Peace now, war in five seconds! Hooray for Oppenheimer! 15:52  |  Ethan 18/05/09
  48.   #9 - Practice what you preach... 15:53  |  Ari 18/05/09
  49.   I`m truly sickened. 16:00  |  H 18/05/09
  50.   Israel builds a new settlement 16:06  |  WHG 18/05/09
  51.   For security? 16:08  |  Tom 18/05/09
  52.   Good News for all who want peace! 16:12  |  Baruch Gold 18/05/09
  53.   This was approved in July 2008 during the Ehud Olmert era 16:17  |  Jason 18/05/09
  54.   This was approved in July 2008 during the Ehud Olmert era 16:17  |  Jason 18/05/09
  55.   Unbelievable 16:20  |  Giora Me`ir 18/05/09
  56.   John Allen 10 16:23  |  jennifer 18/05/09
  57.   Brod once again--it is occcupied territory 16:25  |  Labhras 18/05/09
  58.   It`s embarrasing even to Jews outside of Israel... cannot explain 16:27  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 18/05/09
  59.   Brod 16:28  |  jennifer 18/05/09
  60.   You deserve everything 16:31  |  Another US taxpayer 18/05/09
  61.   $1000 to the first poster that can prove its illegal ! 16:38  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  62.   Dear Mr. Obama 16:38  |  Mark Lincoln 18/05/09
  63.   US really should just let Israel float on its own 16:41  |  American 18/05/09
  64.   #1 true 16:41  |  American -2 18/05/09
  65.   Forget about Iran! They sound more rational every day! 16:43  |  US Man 18/05/09
  66.   Home for families are a good thing 16:48  |  bradallen 18/05/09
  67.   #17 ari and the land registry that doesnt record his allegations 16:50  |  vhardman 18/05/09
  68.   So much for B.S. News and his "Time`s up" drivel. 16:52  |  flyingdoc57 18/05/09
  69.   No Jews in Judea /Samaria = No Peace. Jordan 100% Jew free. 16:57  |  David 18/05/09
  70.   #24, H, what are you talking about? 16:59  |  David 18/05/09
  71.   Keep building;It`s your God given right to do so and no one 17:07  |  glenna 18/05/09
  72.   appalling! 17:15  |  peace seeker 18/05/09
  73.   #9 more importantly is one woman one vote plus human rights 17:17  |  vhardman 18/05/09
  74.   US Helps Iran, despite Israel opposition 17:18  |  American 2 18/05/09
  75.   Really fake doc? The meeting starts as I write this... 17:32  |  BBSNews 18/05/09
  76.   #3 Come into the 21st century 17:35  |  Esra 18/05/09
  77.   Keep trading a piece for Peace 17:39  |  American 18/05/09
  78.   Israel is the Rogue 17:40  |  Vladek 18/05/09
  79.   #55 David who lives somewhere else. 17:41  |  H 18/05/09
  80.   israel is a farce 17:48  |  kaled 18/05/09
  81.   My 2state solution 17:49  |  dave 18/05/09
  82.   #24 John Allen`s response to #1 17:51  |  Lou Medel 18/05/09
  83.   Jordan is Palestine 18:00  |  steve dill 18/05/09
  84.   The best bit in this article....... 18:01  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
  85.   #12 Err, care to reconsider that, JD? 18:10  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
  86.   State the obvious-implementation will come later 18:11  |  U.S. citizen 18/05/09
  87.   Keep Building Settlements!! Don`t Stop!! 18:11  |  Heather Czerniak 18/05/09
  88.   American Lady, go live in Israel... 18:14  |  BBSNews 18/05/09
  89.   Don`t build 18:14  |  Liat 18/05/09
  90.   You know, ya` gotta admire the arrogance. 18:24  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
  91.   steve dill: Israel is Palestine 18:29  |  Neave 18/05/09
  92.   to n 22 jean van daem , you`re a disgrace to humanity, 18:30  |  michele 18/05/09
  93.   American lady: You truly are primitive 18:33  |  American Intellect 18/05/09
  94.   Divine Will 18:43  |  DavidSanders 18/05/09
  95.   #74 BS News re American lady 18:44  |  H 18/05/09
  96.   #76 JB AND HIS CONTINUAL ARROGANCE ARE NOT ADMIRABLE 18:46  |  vhardman 18/05/09
  97.   #47 Victor places his bets 18:47  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
  98.   #73 To Heather in Milwaukee 18:52  |  Lou Medel 18/05/09
  99.   The new "Big Lie" 19:05  |  Tzvi 18/05/09
  100.   and Israel wants peace? 19:14  |  janice 18/05/09
  101.   you will NEVER have peace 19:19  |  Todd 18/05/09
  102.   American lady please explain 19:20  |  Janice 18/05/09
  103.   Victor Hardman aka Paul Harris--where do I get my money 19:31  |  Labhras 18/05/09
  104.   #93 Hardman ---you seem pensive 19:33  |  Labhras 18/05/09
  105.   Heather Czerniak 19:47  |  jennifer 18/05/09
  106.   Take that, Obama! 19:48  |  W 18/05/09
  107.   Obama will decide in june, not tomorrow 20:19  |  Mark B. 18/05/09
  108.   Arabs out!!! 20:44  |  Puzzled 18/05/09
  109.   Keep building! 20:46  |  Ahmadinejad II 18/05/09
  110.   Keep building! 20:49  |  Ahmadinejad II 18/05/09
  111.   The Arabs haven`t quit building 21:33  |  Gregor 18/05/09
  112.   Israel specializes in "davka" politics 21:52  |  David 18/05/09
  113.   A peace not worth having 21:55  |  Moshe 18/05/09
  114.   #88 BSnews Correct me if I am wrong 21:58  |  ISRAELI JEW 18/05/09
  115.   the comments here are the best! 22:07  |  tom 18/05/09
  116.   #103 labarse o0f arabia and his fauilure to explain the term 22:10  |  vhardman 18/05/09
  117.   #93 American Intellect, US education system is weird 22:13  |  Mark B. 18/05/09
  118.   #104 labarse of arabia is obviously ashamed of his 22:15  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  119.   actions spreak louder then words 22:17  |  Mark B. 18/05/09
  120.   Israeli Jews reclaim their bantustan 22:31  |  z 18/05/09
  121.   johnboy obama is not king of america 22:49  |  harzion 18/05/09
  122.   johnboy"dont the palestinians have a say" 22:51  |  harzion 18/05/09
  123.   Arab countries can be 100% Arab Muslim 22:59  |  Mamood 18/05/09
  124.   Not a peep about this in the U.S. media 22:59  |  Tim 18/05/09
  125.   Israel does not want peace. 23:00  |  Jon Jaye 18/05/09
  126.   Isn`t that what the German`s did you the Jews? 23:01  |  Tim 18/05/09
  127.   Labrat try reading the Torah 23:08  |  Gregor 18/05/09
  128.   What does such increased illegal settlement building show... 23:12  |  Maureen Ann 18/05/09
  129.   Waste of money-will have to be evacuated anyway 23:27  |  Markus Grafenburg 18/05/09
  130.   If the American Lefties really wanted to help 23:48  |  Jasper 18/05/09
  131.   #97 johnboy argues the donkeys hind leg 23:49  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  132.   Settlements are land piracy, the root of Middle East conflict 00:25  |  Ivar 19/05/09
  133.   If Israel were to withdraw 00:40  |  Jess Ghannam 19/05/09
  134.   #87 - Keep building.. 00:53  |  Matt 19/05/09
  135.   PAYBACK 01:06  |  PATRIOT 19/05/09
  136.   #109 The flaw in your argument, harzion 01:09  |  Johnboy 19/05/09
  137.   good 01:13  |  vik 19/05/09
  138.   New Settlements 01:33  |  Joe Kelsall 19/05/09
  139.   typical blowhards 01:46  |  peter 19/05/09
  140.   Good Thing They Havent Built In New Jersey 02:41  |  CJ 19/05/09
  141.   Settlements and Most American Jews 02:42  |  bronxite10 19/05/09
  142.   Only suprise is Israel has not started a new war somwhere 04:01  |  American in NY 19/05/09
  143.   Defiance 05:42  |  Rattlesnake Bob 19/05/09
  144.   ALL ISRAEL WANTS IS PEACE - YEAH RIGHT! 06:05  |  PADDY 19/05/09
  145.   Israel Government Playing with fire 13:56  |  Zak Lamont 19/05/09
  146.   what democracy 14:09  |  Holabalu 19/05/09
  147.   Zionist Flawed logic 16:34  |  muslim-- 19/05/09
  148.   Google map of greater isreal.. 16:44  |  muslim-- 19/05/09
  149.   the holocost was overexaggerated.. 18:11  |  mikey k 19/05/09
  150.   oh, so... 18:30  |  mikeyk 19/05/09
  151.   #8 19:21  |  chucky in MD 19/05/09
  152.   Its my land and I`ll do what I want on it! 00:55  |  Mordechai 20/05/09
  153.   #152 Mordechai vents his spleen. 10:49  |  Johnboy 21/05/09
  154.   Land Grab 10:55  |  Peace Now 24/05/09
  155.   Settlements will not end, killings will not end, Palestinians 20:57  |  Witness 03/06/09
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