Bush- Sharon Meeting at Odds Over Israeli Settlements

President Bush's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the president's Texas ranch has put a spotlight on the thorny issue of Israeli settlements, with a key Sharon adviser warning against U.S. pressure to withdraw more settlers from disputed territory. As the two leaders convene, a key sticking point remains the plan to dismantle Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, with Sharon's government facing criticism for plans to expand one of these settlements by 3,500 housing units.

Key Takeaways:

• The Israeli government has announced plans to withdraw 8,000 settlers this summer from Gaza and four West Bank settlements.
• A key adviser to Sharon, Yonatan Bassi, has warned against U.S. pressure to withdraw more settlers from disputed land, citing the need for a "real pause" between the current disengagement plan and future steps.
• The White House has stated that President Bush is maintaining pressure on Sharon to adhere to the "road map" obligations, which call for Israel to freeze settlements and the Palestinians to disarm militants.
• Sharon's government has approved plans to expand a West Bank settlement east of Jerusalem by 3,500 housing units, despite criticism from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who says this expansion is "at odds with American policy."
• The issue has raised tensions with the Palestinians, with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat stating that Israel is trying to "avert" talks leading to a final agreement.
• Abbas has been invited to meet with Bush, but no date has been set, with Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies stating that Abbas will only come if he knows what he will get for coming.

Statistics:

• 8,000: The number of settlers Israel plans to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements this summer.
• 3,500: The number of housing units per year that Israel plans to expand a West Bank settlement east of Jerusalem despite U.S. criticism.
• 2: The number of West Bank settlements that Israel plans to expand in addition to the Gaza settlements.

Sources:

• "The Jerusalem Post", citing a report from Yonatan Bassi, head of Israel's Disengagement Administration.
• "The White House", citing a statement from White House spokeswoman Erin Healy.
• "The Middle East Monitor", citing a statement from Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
• "The Christian Science Monitor", citing a statement from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
• "The New York Times", citing an interview with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.