Around the World: Israel

Plan for new settlements

Israel announced plans yesterday to build hundreds of new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank the Israeli government considers part of Jerusalem, despite US and Palestinian calls to halt settlement expansion.

The announcement came two days before Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sets off for Washington for a three-day visit where he will meet US President George W. Bush.

The 2003 peace "roadmap" requires a halt to all settlement activity on occupied land.

Soldiers' remains released

Hezbollah said yesterday it had released the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in a 2006 war with Israel, which handed over a Lebanese man who had completed a jail term on charges of spying for the group.

The exchange increased speculation of progress in indirect talks between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful Shi'ite Islamist group, over a broader prisoner swap. Lebanese political sources said last Monday that the talks had made major progress.

(China Daily 06/02/2008 page6)