Sharon insists on linking W. Bank settlement to Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday the country should press forward with a building plan to connect the largest West Bank Jewish settlement to Jerusalem despite US and Palestinian objections.

"There is a need to carry out construction in the E-1 corridor," Sharon told the parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

"This program has been in existence for 10 years. We should definitely move ahead with it," Sharon said without giving any time frame for the construction.

Sharon's remarks were condemned by Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

"If carried out, this E-1 project will destroy the peace process and will undermine prospects for any future negotiations on the final status agreements," Erekat said.

"We call upon the United States to stop this project if they want to give the peace process a chance," Erekat added.Israel declared in late March to build 3,500 new houses in Ma'aleh Adumin, the largest settlement home to some 36,000 Israelis.

US officials have repeatedly expressed objections to the settlement expansion plan, but Israel turned a deaf ear to the reactions.

Source: Xinhua