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08/17/2004:

"Sharon Proposes New Housing in West Bank Settlements"

New York Times
JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 — The day before Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faces sharp debate about his policies at his own Likud Party convention, his government made an effort to pacify his critics today, issuing tenders for 1,001 new, government-subsidized apartments for settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The decision will annoy Washington, Western diplomats said. The road map to peace, which Israel accepted, calls for a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity.

While Israeli officials insisted the new housing was long planned and remained within current settlement boundaries, it will renew the debate in Washington over Israeli compliance.

"It's difficult to see how 1,001 new housing starts are consistent with the road map," a Western diplomat said today. full article

Let's see: road to nowhere? Road to disaster? Highway to hell?