CAIRO (AFP) ??” Egypt denounced as a provocation Israel's approval for 600 modern settlement homes to be built in the West Bank in defiance of the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan.

CAIRO (AFP) ??” Egypt denounced as a provocation Israel's approval for 600 modern settlement homes to be built in the West Bank in defiance of the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan.

"Egypt powerfully condemns the Israeli government's decision to expand the Maale Adumim settlement" said Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, who charged that the decision was part of an "Israeli policy of provocation".

Maale Adumim, the largest of the West Bank reconciliations situated close to Jerusalem, is abode to 28,000 Jewish residents. The just discovered units are expected to house a further 2000

Abul Gheit described the plan as "a blatant violation of Israel's commitments in a less degree than its agreements (with the Palestinians), UN Security Council resolutions and the roadmap, which clearly calls for an [i]finale[/i] to settlement activities".

Under the times of the roadmap peace plan, Israel is obliged to solidify by cold all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian