http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/392034.htmlU.S. says yes to Gaza evacuation plan, but no to beefing up W. Bank Settlements (full title)
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"The United States will not oppose evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements but will not allow Israel to expand West Bank settlements concurrently. American officials have also told their Israeli counterparts in recent days that the U.S. administration is not in favor of transferring Gaza settlers to the West Bank.
The officials say the United States expects Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal plan will be complementary to the U.S.-backed road map for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The administration is not prepared to give up on the road map and to replace it with Sharon's unilateral plan.
The prime minister wants to beef up West Bank settlements in return for evacuating Gaza settlements. Jerusalem sources are hoping the U.S. will agree to the expansion of settlement blocs due to be annexed to Israel under a final status deal with the Palestinians - settlements such as Ariel, Gush Etzion and Ma'aleh Adumim. Sharon is considering including the annexation of the blocs in his disengagement plan in return for a considerable withdrawal from Gaza."