Egypt condemns Israeli move to expand settlement

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed AbulGheit on Tuesday strongly condemned an Israeli decision to expandMaale Adumim, the biggest Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Speaking to reporters, Abul Gheit said that such a move was thecontinuation of Israel's provocative policy and a flagrantviolation of its commitment to signed agreements, UN resolutionsand the roadmap plan which stipulated a halt to all settlementactivities.

Abul Gheit noted that the United States, the co-sponsor of theMideast peace process, should take more effective actions to stopthe Israeli move within the context of respect for commitments andstanding against any violation whatever its sources were. He also called on other members of the international quartetbesides the United States to take strict measures against theIsraeli action which fuelled the state with mistrust and provedIsrael's intentions to seize more Palestinian lands. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Defense MinisterShaul Mofaz have approved a decision to allow the building of 600new houses in the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the WestBank.

Under the roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to freeze allsettlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories,where around 245,000 Israelis live.

Source: Xinhua