Development Plan for West Bank Sets Back Talks

Peace talks between Palestinians and Israel resumed Sunday in this Red Sea resort amid bitter Palestinian protests about the disclosure that Israel intends to build 174 homes in a Jewish settlement on the West Bank.

A trust-building gesture planned by Prime Minister Ehud Barak--handing over Arab suburbs of Jerusalem to the Palestinians--was in doubt, as hawkish Israeli Cabinet ministers said they would oppose it. Barak had hoped the hand-over would show that Israel is serious about the talks.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed-Rabbo opened the talks Sunday evening with a statement expressing his displeasure at learning that Barak had authorized the expansion of Maale Adumim, the largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

“Actions like this gravely harm the current negotiations,” Abed-Rabbo said.

Speaking briefly to reporters in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said the expansion violated peace accords. The opening of the talks was delayed five hours while the Palestinians lodged a protest over the expansion.

Also Sunday, Israeli soldiers removed settlers who had set up camp on a hilltop in the West Bank city of Hebron in an attempt to expand their presence in the overwhelmingly Palestinian city.