Palestinian PM takes UN chief to observation point, shows him Israeli settlements, barrier
By APSaturday, March 20, 2010
UN chief is shown Israeli settlements, barrier
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian prime minister has taken U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to a West Bank observation point for a closer look at a large Israeli settlement and Israel’s separation barrier.
Ban’s visit came a day after he and other major Mideast mediators again called on Israel to halt all settlement construction.
The Palestinians say settlements eat up land they want for their state.
On Saturday, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad took Ban to a West Bank hill to illustrate the point. From their position on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Ramallah, they had a sweeping view of the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, which has 11,000 residents.
They also saw the separation barrier, which cuts into Palestinian-claimed land.
