Jerusalem patriarch raps Israeli settlement expansion Jerusalem, Aug. 23 (CWNews.com)

Jerusalem, Aug. 23 (CWNews.com) - Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem has criticized the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying that they will be "a new obstacle on the path to peace." The Catholic prelate said that the Israeli plans for new construction "demonstrate a willingness to continue the conflict in the Holy Land." Patriarch Sabbah told a Vatican Radio audience, "If the Israelis really want peace, they must accept the idea of leaving terrorities to their own inhabitants: Palestine for Palestinians, Israel for Israelis." Moving Jewish settlers onto the West Bank, he said, is "an act of aggression that can only promote war, not peace." The patriarch was responding to the announcement that Israeli would give the green light to construction of two new developments, housing 533 people. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that he would strengthen Jewish settlements in the West Bank, at the same time that he withdraws Israeli citizens from Gaza. According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli government approval for the new construction projects came after the US government said that it would not object, as long as the new housing units were contained within the boundaries of existing Israeli settlements.