Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 15, 2008

Israel's Deputy PM: West Bank Outposts Should be Dismantled
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B8E578:A6F02AD83191E160FF744252535812C2C030207A0BD70133& Haim Ramon says
delay in dismantling unauthorized settlement outposts in West Bank
hurting relations with US





Jewish settlers work to fix the main house of the unauthorized Israeli
outpost of Shvut Ami, 22 Nov. 2007Israel's deputy prime minister says
the Jewish state's delay in dismantling unauthorized settlement
outposts in the West Bank is hurting its relations with the United
States.

Haim Ramon told Israel Radio Saturday that Israel is not meeting its
commitments under the internationally sponsored Middle East "road map"
to peace.

He said Israel must make a decision on the outposts in one or two
weeks.

The top Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qorei, called Saturday for
greater U.S. pressure on Israel to dismantle the outposts.

The "road map" to Middle East peace calls for Israel to remove
settlement outposts and freeze all settlement activity. It also
requires the Palestinians to disarm militants.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said neither
Israel nor the Palestinians have met their obligations under the the
"road map."

She spoke after peace talks resumed in Jerusalem between Israel and
the Palestinians, with a U.S. envoy, General William Fraser, leading
the meeting.

U.S. officials said the talks focused on areas where the parties are
not meeting their commitments under the "road map" and the reasons
why.

The officials did not elaborate, but Washington has described Israeli
settlement construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as a
violation of the plan. Washington also has pressed the Palestinians to
do more to control militant groups.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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