JERUSALEM, July 27, 2009
More Israeli Settlers Than Ever in W. Bank
News Paper Reports More Than 300,00 Settlers in Palestinian Territory Despite U.S. Push to Halt Expansion
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A Jewish settler looks on as she stands next to ruins of a structure demolished by Israeli authorities next to the West Bank settlement of Adei Ad, south of Nablus, West Bank, July 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, shakes hands with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak during a meeting at a Jerusalem hotel, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Guez)
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The report in the Haaretz daily comes at a time of dispute between Israel and an American administration eager to see a halt in settlement construction.
President Obama's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, was to meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday and then with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, part of a visit dedicated to resolving the differences marring the relationship between the two allies.
Mr. Obama's national security adviser, James Jones, and top Iran and Mideast adviser Dennis Ross, are also due in Israel this week. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates paid a brief visit to the country on Monday, arriving in the morning and leaving at midday.
Speaking alongside Gates, Israel's defense chief maintained his country's hard line on Iran Monday, refusing to take the possibility of a unilateral military strike on the Islamic Republic off the table. (Read more.)
Quoting statistics compiled by the military, the Haaretz report said the number of West Bank settlers is currently at an all-time high of 304,569 - a 2.3 percent increase since January.
Military spokesman Maj. Guy Inbar would not comment on the report, which he said was based on a leaked document.
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, there were 289,600 West Bank settlers at the end of 2008.
The number of Israeli settlers has more than doubled since the mid-1990s in the West Bank, which is home to around 2.5 million Palestinians. Some 8,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip were pulled out by the Israeli government in 2005.
To help restart peace talks, the U.S. has been pressing Israel to halt all construction in settlements built on land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state. But Israel insists some construction must continue to allow "natural growth" in the settler population.
The settlements are seen by the international community as an obstacle to a peace agreement, and the Palestinians say they will not resume peace talks while construction continues.
In the Gaza Strip, four Palestinians died overnight when a smuggling tunnel between Gaza and Egypt collapsed and trapped them inside, according to Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of Gaza's Health Ministry. Hamas-controlled Gaza is subject to an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, and many goods are brought in through underground tunnels. Collapses are common.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- Good grief, just because I claim Hollywood as my homeland does not justify murdering innocent people nor the world supporting such a claim. The names of many lands have faded into history after they had been conquered. Seems the arab nation invaded Israel and lost all this land. Yes I would cry too, if I found someone stupid enough to listen. They are lucky they are not pushed off 'Israeli land'. Get a grip, the Palestinians are only taking this route because the other arabs back war with Israel and want Israel out. Now the US has Obama as President and we are seeing a swing in our leadership.
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- The settlements are seen by the international community as an obstacle to a peace agreement...
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Which is because that is precisely what they are and why Israel keeps building them.
Israel wants land, not peace. - Reply to this comment
- How many Camp David peace accords are there to be? I am amazed that Defense Secretary Gates got to a hotel -- Rice would basically only make it to the airport lounge without having to check in her luggage. Gates was then carted right back to the airport. Oh yea ... the King David logo got into the photo. Well planned.
When the 1973 illegal 6 day war happened and Golda Meir went beyond her mark over Nixon and Kissinger's heads -- that was only the beginning -- this has been going on for years. Obama is another puppet. It will take more than George Mitchell. - Reply to this comment
- The chosen people? Such crap!
As brave Canadians, Americans, British and other soldiers are returning in body bags ... Israel is its typical arrogant self.
Einstein stated in a letter recently auctioned ... he as a Jew; is no different than another person -- not chosen by God. - Reply to this comment
- This is excellent news! Jews are returning (as equired by International Law) to their Homeland.
The Red Cross invented a law which says the settlement are illegal and the Left wing politicians just parrot this!
The Torah and the Koran both give legitimacy to Jews re-settling their homeland.
There is no 'peace process'. - Reply to this comment
