Sharon faces US rebuke on settlement expansion

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced a stern US warning yesterday against expanding West Bank settlements as he appeared set to delay a Gaza pull-out until August to avoid clashing with a Jewish mourning period.

The White House was quick to criticise Israel, one of its closest allies, in unusually direct terms after it unveiled plans to build 50 new settler homes, a week after US President George W. Bush had urged Mr Sharon to freeze such construction.

"We will be seeking clarification from the government of Israel," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "Israel should not be expanding settlements."

Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment on the renewed US demand, which followed a rare public airing of differences between Mr Bush and Mr Sharon at a Texas summit over a US-sponsored "road map" to peace with the Palestinians.

"Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his commitment to the 'road map' just last week in Crawford, and his commitment to the President's two-state vision," Mr McClellan said. "The road map has obligations for both parties."

Mr McClellan said Israel should halt settlement expansion but also echoed Mr Sharon's chief concern by reiterating Mr Bush's call for Palestinian leaders "to dismantle terrorist organisations".

Mr Sharon has insisted Israel can keep building in existing settlements in the occupied West Bank. He seems to have been emboldened by Mr Bush's reaffirmation that Israel should be able to keep some West Bank settlement blocs under any final peace deal.

There has also been no sign that Mr Bush intends to put any real teeth into US criticism of Israeli settlement projects.

Despite that, Palestinians, who want all of the West Bank and Gaza for a future state, welcomed the White House swipe at Israel, saying settlement construction threatened peace moves.

"We will protest to the US administration," Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath said of Israel's plan to build 50 more houses in the settlement of Elkana.