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.