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| By: Israel Insider staff and partners |
| Published: April 6, 2005 |
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A senior Israeli Cabinet minister acknowledged Wednesday that there are serious differences between Israel and the United States over Jewish settlement expansion.
Housing Minister Tsipi Livni spoke a day after U.S. President George W. Bush affirmed his support for the "road map" peace plan, which calls for a settlement construction freeze. The issue was raised after Israeli officials last month confirmed plans to build 3,650 homes in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.
Livni told Israel Army Radio that there is agreement between Israel and the United States on continued construction within the built-up areas of the settlements.
"It seems that the debate is more over whether Israel can expand the perimeters of these communities, and certainly from an American viewpoint, as well, Israel can build within them," she said. "Not that this makes it easy for us; let there be no misunderstanding. There apparently will be disputes with the Americans over this."
The planned Maaleh Adumim expansion is especially contentious because it would link the settlement to east Jerusalem, separating Arab neighborhoods of the city from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
The AP contributed to this report.
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