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Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

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International

Bush slams Sharon over settlements

By Suzanne Goldenberg

DISTURBING PATTERN: Houses in Maleeh Adumim, the largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank, east of Jerusalem, seen in this file photo. — AP

WASHINGTON, APRIL 12. The U.S. President, George Bush, has delivered an unusually stern public warning to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, against plans to expand Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank.

The censure, delivered on a visit to the presidential ranch that was to have been a reward for Mr. Sharon, was the strongest sign so far of Washington's concern that a settlement expansion could wreck Mr Bush's road map for West Asia peace.

``I told the Prime Minister of my concern that Israel not undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or prejudices final status negotiations,'' Mr Bush told reporters at his Crawford ranch in Texas. ``Therefore, Israel should remove unauthorised outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank.''

A disappointment

The public call for a freeze arrived as a disappointment for Mr Sharon. Mr Bush privately voiced specific objections against a scheme to expand the Maaleh Adumim settlement, which would prevent an eventual Palestinian state from having a foothold in any part of Arab East Jerusalem.

Israeli officials had hoped that Washington would be too concerned with ensuring the planned evacuation of Jewish outposts from the Gaza Strip this summer to object to the construction plan.

However, Mr Bush softened the rebuke by reaffirming his promise to Mr Sharon of a year ago that Israel would not be compelled to stage a full withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders in an eventual settlement with the Palestinians, and would be able to retain some Jewish settlement blocs.

Threat to life feared

Earlier yesterday, Mr Sharon told NBC TV he feared for his personal safety, amid resistance by hardliners to the Gaza pullout, and that the atmosphere in Israel was bordering on ``civil war''.

Instead of the hoped-for boost from Mr Bush, yesterday was dominated by U.S. anger at an Israeli plan that would radically alter the contours of the West Bank by constructing a corridor of 3,650 new homes, expanding the settlement of Maaleh Adumim up to the boundaries of Jerusalem.

There were also signs that Israel had scored some success in shifting the focus of yesterday's meeting from Jewish settlement building in the West Bank to the challenges confronting the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, and Israel's demand that he crack down on militants.

Despite Mr Bush's strong words yesterday, there were also signs that the U.S. would tolerate some dissent from Israel.

Mr Sharon indicated that so far as Israel was concerned, the road map did not immediately compel it to freeze settlements: —

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