- GAZA CITY (AFP) -
The Israeli army has confiscated three hectares (7. 4 acres) of land near
a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian agriculture
ministry said Saturday.
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- "Israeli occupation forces confiscated in July three
hectares (7.4 acres) of land and a well" near the settlement of Neve
Dekalim, west of the city of Khan Yunes, the ministry said.
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- "Israeli soldiers put up barbed wire around the
land and prevented the owners from cultivating it," it added.
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- The Israeli government on Thursday invited tenders from
contractors to build 22 apartments in Neve Dekalim, military radio said.
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- It is the first tender for construction in a Gaza settlement
for more than a year.
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- Israel's anti-settlement movement Peace Now condemned
the move as "new proof that the government of (prime minister) Ariel
Sharon is not meeting its commitments within the framework of the roadmap"
for peace with the Palestinians.
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- The US-backed peace plan calls in its first phase for
a freeze on all settlement activity in the occupied territories.
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- According to Israeli interior ministry figures, 7,700
Israeli settlers live in Gaza.
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