Israeli Official Acknowledges U.S. Rift

Wednesday April 6, 2005 3:01 PM
By AMY TEIBEL

Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel has the right to strengthen Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Wednesday, a day after President Bush affirmed support for a peace plan that calls for a construction freeze in settlements.

Justice Minister Tsipi Livni acknowledged there are serious differences between Israel and the United States over Jewish settlement expansion.

The issue of expansion was raised after Israeli officials last month confirmed plans to build 3,650 homes in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.

In the West Bank, four Palestinians were wounded by fire from private Israeli security guards protecting a crew building Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank. Palestinian witnesses said the four were farmers on their way to their fields. The Defense Ministry said the four had attacked the crew, and that the guards' lives were in danger.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4917408,00.html