To: Baldur Fjvlnisson who wrote (278726 ) 7/22/2002 9:58:52 AM From: Emile Vidrine Respond to of 769670 Sarid: Israel Removed Settlements That Never Existed (Sharon is using the typical Zionist deception techniques and the Bush team doesn't have clue) Saturday, July 20 2002 @ 04:50 PM GMT TEL AVIV: Israeli position leader, Yossi Sarid, revealed in a letter he sent last week to US National Security Advisor Condelisa Rise, that the Israeli government has established 70 new illegal Jewish settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. According to the Arab daily newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Sarid called upon Rise not to believe the Israeli government's "lies" regarding its settlement building in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Sarid also criticized US Security Advisor's remarks last week, where, in an interview with Israel's Channel 2, she welcomed the Israeli government's "courageous decision to remove illegal settlements", pointing out that he is ready to provide the American administration with information proving that no such measures have taken place. "I agree with you that the removal of settlements is a positive thing, but this is not what took place in the ground. I can assure you that some of these settlements-which [the Israeli government] said they have removed, did not exist at all", Sarid stressed in his letter. "I would like to say that no every support to the Israeli government in fact serves the interests of Israel or the Israeli people. As an Israeli patriot who believes settlements cause damage to Israel, I see that it is my duty to inform you of the truth so that you would not only rely on Israeli governmental sources, whose credibility is questioned," Sarid added. Sources close to Sarid highlighted that the American Administration is well aware of all Israeli illegal settlement activities. The sources added that at the same time, the American Administration is determined to avoid any confrontation with [Israeli prime minister Sharon] that would weaken its stern attitude towards the Palestinian Leadership and President Arafat in particular.