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Independent Online Edition > Middle East: "Olmert backs off from West Bank pull-out with settlements plan
By Amy Teibel in Jerusalem
Published: 05 September 2006

The government of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has issued bids to build 700 homes in the West Bank - its largest settlement construction project since taking office in May.

The construction and housing ministry published adverts in Israeli newspapers requesting proposals for the new construction in the Maaleh Adumim and Betar Illit settlements, both outside Jerusalem.

Kobi Bleich, a ministry spokesman, confirmed that the project was the largest so far by the new government, which was elected on a platform calling for withdrawal from most Jewish settlements. Previously, the government issued bids to build 98 homes in other projects.

Despite his calls for a withdrawal, Mr Olmert has repeatedly said Israel would keep major settlement blocs - including Maaleh Adumim and Betar Illit - under any final peace deal with the Palestinians. In all, more than 60,000 people live in the two settlements.

Mr Olmert said he had put on hold his plan for a pull-out from parts of the occupied West Bank following the recent conflict in Lebanon. 'I have no doubt that something has changed in the order of priorities I had believed to be correct,' he told parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, accor"