Qurai to Livni: the Palestinian Authority shocked by decision to expand settlements

Wednesday March 12, 2008 23:40 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

The head of the Palestinian negotiation team Ahmad Qurai sent a letter of dissatisfaction, Wednesday to Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni regarding Israels recent decision to approve settlement expansion near the city of Jerusalem.

Israeli settlement Near Jerusalem - File 2007

Qurai protested the decision as it contradicts the U.S backed 2003 Road Map to Peace plan , which the revived Palestinian/ Israeli peace talks were based on in November 07. Israeli agreed to the Road map peace plan, which states clearly that Israel must halt all settlement activity in the West Bank including the Jerusalem. The Palestinian officials said that the Israeli moves, threaten peace talks which aim to achieve peace deal by the end of 2008. On Tuesday the Israeli government approved the construction of 750 housing units to be added to the Givat Zaive Settlement located near Jerusalem, with plans to approve more units in other settlements.

west bank | peace process | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org