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As Gaza Exit Looms, a Settlement Surges

(Baltimore Sun) John Murphy - Sprawled across the desert hilltops about four miles east of Jerusalem, Ma'ale Adumim is a community of red-tile-roofed homes, curved streets bordered by blooming flower beds, cascading fountains, a shopping mall, playgrounds, and 140 factories producing furniture, wine, and computer software. Mayor Benny Kashriel insists the proposed construction is part of a long-standing plan to accommodate the natural growth of the community. "About 80% of our children are buying their homes here and establishing their families here," he said. This week in Ma'ale Adumim hundreds of construction workers operating building cranes and cement mixers were busy erecting a new section of 500 apartments. "I don't think we have to give up anything. What for? Because the Palestinians are screaming?...We are building in Ma'ale Adumim territory. We are not expanding at all," Kashriel said. What's more, he said, the development would create more jobs for Palestinians, who fill about 2,000 jobs in the settlement's industrial zone.
2005-04-13 00:00:00
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