2008 Woodie Awards
Bush, Sharon disagree on West Bank settlements
William Douglas ; Knight Ridder Newspapers
Issue date: 4/20/05 Section: News
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Bush objected to Israel's plans to add 3,650 homes to Maaleh Adumim--the West Bank's largest Jewish settlement--saying it would cut off Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and violate the so-called "road map" peace plan.
The road map--devised by the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union--calls for a freeze on Israeli settlements, for Palestinians to disarm militants, and for both sides to negotiate over disputed territories.
"I told the prime minister of my concern that Israel not undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or prejudice final status negotiations," Bush told reporters following a meeting with Sharon. "Therefore, Israel should remove unauthorized outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank."
Bush added, "And part of that process is no expansion of settlements."
Sharon didn't publicly respond to questions about whether construction and expansion of settlements would continue, saying only that the major settlements on the West Bank would remain under Israeli control. "It is the Israeli position that the major Israeli population centers will remain in Israel's hands under any future final status agreement, with all related consequences," Sharon said.
Bush said that, as part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized borders that emerge from negotiations between the two parties. He repeated his April statement that "realities on the ground" make it unrealistic to expect Israel to return to its 1949 armistice lines, in effect accepting Israel's claim to land claimed by settlers on the West Bank.
Sharon told Bush that Israel would remove all unauthorized outposts and meet "all of its obligations" under the road map regarding settlements.