JERUSALEM, 10 August 2004 — Settler sources and reports said yesterday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, under US pressure, has shelved plans to build 1,300 new homes in the West Bank settlements.

Israeli public radio reported Sharon had refused a request by the Housing Ministry to give the final green light for 1,300 homes in four of the largest settlements after completing preparatory ground work for the construction and obtaining the necessary authorization from the Defense Ministry.

The houses would have been built in Maale Adumin, Ariel, Kiryat Arba and Beitar Elite.

While there was no confirmation from Sharon’s office, leaders of the settler movement confirmed that a freeze had been imposed.

Josh Hasten, a spokesman for the Yesha Council of Settlers, said that the movement was confident that the freeze would be merely temporary and said that there could be no arguments over the need for the new housing.

“This could be a temporary setback,” he told AFP. “Our communities are growing and thriving.

“We do not think there should be any delays (to accommodate) natural growth. There’s always a need as there’s always a demand.”

According to the Haaretz daily, the freeze is only temporary and is designed to ensure that all building work is within the municipal boundaries of the settlements and does not breach agreements between the Americans and Israelis.

It affects plans revealed in the last week for hundreds of new homes in Maale Adumin, the largest of all the settlements, as well as in Ariel which lies some 20 kilometers on the eastern side of the internationally recognized boundary between Israel and the West Bank.

Under the terms of the US-backed road map peace plan, Israel is obliged to freeze all settlement activity, although Israeli officials have argued that this does not rule out natural growth in existing settlements.

The US State Department told Israel last week that “the roadmap calls for an end to all settlement activities, including natural growth.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces swept into Rafah in southern Gaza Strip early yesterday. Several Israeli tanks and military bulldozers backed by combat helicopters stormed Al-Shoot area where the Israeli helicopters fired at least eight missiles toward civilian houses.

A short while later the military bulldozers started demolishing the houses, military sources and witnesses said. In all 10 houses were totally demolished.