Prime Minister Sharon has officially rejected the American demand for a total freeze on construction activity in Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza). It was learned today that Sharon told U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday that he would not prevent young people who were born in the towns from building their homes there. "I don't call them settlements, but rather communities," Sharon said, adding, "We also won't force young mothers to have abortions."
Powell told Israel's Channel Two last night that President Bush "expects to speak to [Prime Minister Sharon] in very open, straightforward, honest, candid terms about settlement activity and settlements in general when he sees Prime Minister Sharon next week." Sharon, however, rebuffed the veiled threat, telling Ynet today that his relationship with Bush is not one where Bush "makes demands."
Dr. Mati Erlichman of Beit El told Arutz-7 today that the birthrate in Binyamin-area communities is very high, "and just as significantly, very consistent. In Beit El, for instance, we have a natural growth rate of 4%, which is very high, and there are 10-11 nurseries here... What this means is that these towns are dynamic, alive. Many of the babies born here 20-25 years ago are now establishing their own families in other communities nearby - children from Beit El are now in Ofrah, and some from Ofrah are now in Eli, etc. We're alive!"
Secretary Powell announced, during his press conference yesterday with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, that the United States is prepared to allocate $50 million to the PA towards the rehabilitation of its infrastructure and the creation of jobs.
Powell told Israel's Channel Two last night that President Bush "expects to speak to [Prime Minister Sharon] in very open, straightforward, honest, candid terms about settlement activity and settlements in general when he sees Prime Minister Sharon next week." Sharon, however, rebuffed the veiled threat, telling Ynet today that his relationship with Bush is not one where Bush "makes demands."
Dr. Mati Erlichman of Beit El told Arutz-7 today that the birthrate in Binyamin-area communities is very high, "and just as significantly, very consistent. In Beit El, for instance, we have a natural growth rate of 4%, which is very high, and there are 10-11 nurseries here... What this means is that these towns are dynamic, alive. Many of the babies born here 20-25 years ago are now establishing their own families in other communities nearby - children from Beit El are now in Ofrah, and some from Ofrah are now in Eli, etc. We're alive!"
Secretary Powell announced, during his press conference yesterday with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, that the United States is prepared to allocate $50 million to the PA towards the rehabilitation of its infrastructure and the creation of jobs.