Israel, U.S. at odds on freeze

JERUSALEM — Israel has the right to strengthen Jewish settlements in the West Bank, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Wednesday, a day after President Bush affirmed support for a peace plan that calls for a construction freeze in settlements.

Justice Minister Tsipi Livni acknowledged there are serious differences between Israel and the United States over Jewish settlement expansion.

The issue of expansion was raised after Israeli officials last month confirmed plans to build 3,650 homes in the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim.

In the West Bank, four Palestinians were wounded by fire from private Israeli security guards protecting a crew building Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank. Palestinian witnesses said the four were farmers on their way to their fields. The Defense Ministry said the four had attacked the crew and the guards' lives were in danger.

Livni told Army Radio there is agreement between Israel and the United States on continued construction within the built-up areas of the settlements.

"It seems that the debate is more over whether Israel can expand the perimeters of these communities, and certainly from an American viewpoint, as well, Israel can build within them," she said. "There apparently will be disputes with the Americans over this."

Livni said that despite such differences, Israel should still be able to "strengthen" settlements.

The planned Maaleh Adumim expansion is especially contentious because it would link the settlement to east Jerusalem, separating Arab neighborhoods of the city from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state.

A year ago, after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unveiled a plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Bush issued a letter to Israel stating his support for its retention of major Israeli population centers in the West Bank under a final peace deal with the Palestinians.

But Washington has steadily opposed expansion of settlements.

"Our position is very clear that the 'road map' is important and the 'road map' calls for no expansion of the settlements," Bush said ahead of Sharon's visit at his Texas ranch next week.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed Bush's statement.