The coalition majority struck from the Knesset agenda today six opposition motions against a plan by Agriculture Minister Ariel Sharon to offer private housing companies prime building land in Jerusalem and other cities if they will build residential units for more settlers on the West Bank.
Replying to the motions, Sharon confirmed that he was negotiating the deal with several private contractors and that the Israel Lands Authority, which is subordinate to him, is examining the legal ramifications of the proposal. The “land for apartments” deal is a barter arrangement conceived by Sharon because the government is short of funds to accelerate building on the West Bank.
It was sharply criticized by members of the opposition Labor Party who charged that Sharon intends to erect scores of new homes on the West Bank before the elections this spring in order to narrow political options open to the Labor Party should it win control of the government.
Sharon himself was defiant. “We offer land for apartments while you would offer land for baseless dreams,” he told the opposition MKs. He appeared to be referring to the Labor Party’s policy of territorial compromise in pursuit of peace.
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