[Jerusalem Post] Herb Keinon - Building in Ma'aleh Adumim and Har Homa does not prejudice a final-status agreement with the Palestinians, a senior Israeli official said after Olmert met with Abbas. Both Ma'aleh Adumim and Har Homa were already existing facts and therefore adding to them does not prejudice any possible agreement, the official said. The Israeli position was that if you build in an existing community you are not creating any new facts on the ground that prejudge a final agreement. During Thursday's meeting, Olmert reiterated pledges not to build any new settlements or expand existing settlements beyond their current borders, an Israeli official said. However, Israel maintains the right to build within the existing limits of major West Bank settlements to account for natural growth. Olmert reiterated that policy Thursday.
2007-12-28 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive