Fury over Sharon settlement plans

THE more moderate line promoted by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s new centrist party has suffered a big setback after plans for new settlement buildings were revealed.

Mr Sharon's Kadima party had declared Palestinian statehood as a central goal and Israel signalled it would drop a threat to ban Jerusalem's Palestinians from voting in their parliamentary election.

But the news was dampened by an announcement of new Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, disclosed in newspaper ads seeking bids from contractors.

The plans, including 228 homes in the settlements of Beitar Illit and Efrat both near Jerusalem, appear to violate Israel's commitments under the US-backed "road map" peace plan.

Mr Sharon aide Raanan Gissin said plans for the latest construction began more than five years ago. He said the building would be in settlements that Israel planned to retain after a final peace settlement with the Palestinians.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the expansion and urged the US to intervene.

The settlement plans came as Kadima signalled it was ready to hand over more West Bank territory to the Palestinians and work towards an independent Palestinian state after the March 28 elections. Opinion polls forecast a strong victory by Mr Sharon's bloc.

Israel fired shells and missiles at the Gaza Strip yesterday, hitting two offices of the militant al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

They also hit a bridge the army said was used by militants to reach areas where they fire rockets.

The airstrikes were part of the army's attempt to halt rocket fire on Israeli towns bordering Gaza.

Hours later, about 40 gunmen took over an election office in the neighbourhood of A-Ram just outside of Jerusalem, demanding that the ruling Fatah Party include more representatives of the neighbourhood in its list for parliamentary elections on January 25.

Earlier, about two dozen armed al-Aqsa militants took over the governor's office and two other government buildings in northern Gaza the latest outbreak of lawlessness that has undermined the rule of Mr Abbas.