Livnat: Forget US, expand settlements

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By Ryan Jones
September 06, 2005

Education Minister Limor Livnat Tuesday urged Israel?s government to immediately expand and strengthen key Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, despite Washington?s opposition to such moves.

?I'll say this clearly: We are a sovereign nation. The great United States is our friend, but there are times when we have to say, even to the United States, that we will act in accordance with our interests,? Livnat told Israel Radio.

She said if Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is correct and the uprooting of Jews from Gaza and northern Samaria has opened a ?window of opportunity? for Israel to solidify its hold on Judea and Samaria, the nation must not miss its chance.

And ?we should demand of the Americans that they do not pressure us on this matter,? Livnat said, pointing out that US President George W. Bush ostensibly agreed that Israel could keep large settlement blocs in a letter to Sharon last year.

?Implicit in this [purported agreement] is the necessity and acceptability of building up the settlement blocs, though this may not have been said explicitly by the US administration,? the minister continued.

Livnat?s remarks came amid denials by government officials that the construction of an additional 3,000 housing units had been approved in the Samaria town of Ariel.  Defense Minister Sha?ul Mofaz said only 117 new homes would be built for now.

She also pressed the issue of building up the area between Jerusalem and Ma?aleh Adumim known as E1.

Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week said the E1 project would be halted until Israel gained US consent for the additional neighborhood.

Likud prime ministerial hopeful Binyamin Netanyahu has vowed to rapidly complete the project for the sake of strengthening Israel?s hold on a unified Jerusalem if he is elected.

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