- Jerusalem (AP) -- Israel
will invest tens of millions of dollars in West Bank settlements even as
it pulls out of the Gaza Strip and a few other settlements, Finance Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.
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- His proposal would contradict the U.S.-backed "road
map" peace plan, which requires Israel to freeze settlement construction.
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- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed removing
all settlements in Gaza, as well as four in the West Bank, and rapidly
completing a separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank. Palestinians
fear the move will strengthen Israel's hold over the rest of the West Bank,
which they want as part of a future state.
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- Mr. Netanyahu announced his support for Mr. Sharon's
plan Sunday, giving it a crucial boost in an upcoming referendum among
the 200,000 members of Mr. Sharon's hard line Likud party.
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- Mr. Netanyahu told Israel Radio on Monday that he decided
to support the plan after U.S. President George W. Bush announced that
Israel would not have to absorb Palestinian refugees or evacuate major
Israeli population centres in the West Bank in any peace deal. He said
he also was satisfied with Mr. Sharon's commitment to finish the barrier,
which snakes into the West Bank in parts to include some settlements, before
the withdrawal begins.
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- The Finance Minister reaffirmed Israel's commitment to
the settlements that will fall on the "Palestinian" side of the
barrier and said he would approve tens of millions of dollars "to
invest in the settlements beyond the main fence."
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- Mr. Sharon told the cabinet on Sunday that he would forge
ahead with his disengagement plan, while continuing to "hit the terror
organizations and their leaders."
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