Israelis' plans unearth trouble
By Greg Myre The New York Times
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Expansion of West Bank settlement angers Palestinians
MAALE ADUMIM, West Bank Israel on Monday confirmed plans to build 3,500 new housing units in the largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Maale Adumim. Palestinians angrily denounced it as a violation of the Middle East peace plan and a major obstacle to resolving bitter disputes over nearby Jerusalem.
With nearly 30,000 residents, a spacious shopping mall that includes Blockbuster video and Ace Hardware, and streets lined with palm trees and flower beds in full bloom, Maale Adumim already resembles a well-ordered suburb in the hills a few kilometers east of Jerusalem.
Residents welcomed the planned expansion as a natural development for the fast-growing settlement. "This is very good news," said Roni Hai, 52, a taxi driver and a 20-year resident. "We just keep getting bigger and bigger."
Cranes, bulldozers and trucks were all in motion Monday, working on dozens of previously approved residential buildings. A billboard touting one new neighborhood, "Views of Sevilla," promises apartments with "breathtaking views." To the west is the skyline of Jerusalem, and to the east are stark, desert hills, dotted with Palestinian villages.
But Palestinians criticized the Israeli plan as a flagrant attempt to expand the Jewish presence in and around the eastern parts of Jerusalem, and further sealing it off from other Palestinian areas in the West Bank.
"If this is carried out, Israel will be dictating the outcome of negotiations on the future of Jerusalem before they even begin," said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator.
"I really urge President Bush to intervene directly and prevent Israel from doing this," said Erekat. "The land that is supposed to be for a future Palestinian state is being eaten up. With this settlement building, and the wall that is being built, the question for President Bush is: What is left to be negotiated?"
Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, and government officials often describe Maale Adumim as part of "greater Jerusalem" that will be part of Israel in any future settlement. The Palestinians, meanwhile, are seeking all of the West Bank as part of a future state, with a capital in the traditionally Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem.
In practical terms, the expansion of Maale Adumim creates two major problems, according to Palestinians and other critics of the Israeli plan.
Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and nearby areas will be effectively boxed in, with no room to grow.[*]
"This project may be one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a two-state solution," said Yariv Oppenheimer, of Peace Now, an Israeli group that monitors settlements. "This will cut off Jerusalem to the east with Jewish settlements."
Also, an expanded Maale Adumim would serve as a barrier between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank. Palestinians traveling between these two parts would face a lengthy detour, though Israeli officials have hinted that they might build a bypass road.
Critics also called the expansion a violation of the Israel's pledge under the Middle East peace plan, known as the road map, which calls for a freeze of all settlement activity.
Israel has interpreted this to mean it can continue building in existing settlements, at least for now. Israel also says the road map is not currently being implemented because the Palestinian leadership has yet to act against Palestinian factions responsible for terror attacks, as demanded by the peace plan.
A U.S. Embassy official, who requested he not be named, said: "Israel has obligations in the context of the road map, and we expect Israel to fulfill its obligations. Israel's prime minister has made promises to President Bush as well."
After reports in the Israeli media, the Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Shaul Mofaz, the defense minister, approved the new building plan for Maale Adumim two months ago, based on government proposals dating back several years.
The settlement is a magnet for young couples, and boasts 39 kindergartens. Apartments here are at least one-third cheaper than in Jerusalem. The commute used to include regular traffic jams, and on occasion, stone-throwing Palestinian youths. But a highway that opened two years ago tunnels through a hillside, avoiding Palestinian areas.
iht.com
[*] Told you so:
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