The Allied forces were gathered into small groups at major villages, with outposts along the river manned only during the daytime.

Likewise, we believe that all settlement activities should cease and that settlement outposts should be dismantled in accordance with the road map.

Israeli settlement activities must come to an end.

Prime Minister Sharon had acknowledged that the main settlement blocks in the West Bank would remain under Israeli sovereignty, which meant that the territory between the wall and the Green Line had been de facto annexed by Israel.

There is considerable evidence that settlement activity continues.

It has consistently voiced disapproval of settlement activities.

One of its primary obligations and an important confidence building measure is the requirement to halt all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001.

The first period of settlement in Göreme goes back to the Roman period.

Switzerland calls on the Israeli Government to freeze all settlement activities, which are a matter of great concern.

The occupation is marked by the expansion of settlement activities and is greatly exacerbated by the continued construction of the wall on Palestinian land.

It was estimated that 9 per cent of the West Bank was now occupied by Israeli settlements and outposts.

Israel must also free Palestinian prisoners, remove all checkpoints between Palestinian villages and town, and redeploy its forces to positions held prior to September 28, 2000, in accordance with phase I of the Road Map.

All such Israeli settlement policies and practices are being carried out in flagrant and grave violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Taking into consideration the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on the Middle East peace process,

Taking into consideration the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on the Middle East peace process,

Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East,

Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East,

The Arab position is that no proximity talks can be held until Israel freezes its settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Perhaps the most important factor has been the continuation and, at times, acceleration of Israeli settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories.

Among the international community's demands of Israel has been a total freeze on all settlement activity, including expansion and natural growth.

A stop to settlement activities in Palestinian territories is a reasonable demand, and the Palestinians could naturally insist on it in the negotiations.

Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East,

Moreover, Israel continues its settlement activities, the construction of the separation wall and the building of by pass roads and military checkpoints that impede freedom of movement.

The Palestinians are pushing for international recognition of their statehood, while the Israelis are using their settlement policy to preempt a Palestinian state.

The meetings highlight the most pressing concerns, such as the need to end violence, stop settlement activities and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian population.

The cycle goes something like this American or international pressure mounts on Israel to stop settlement activities in the occupied territories.

As a result, the need for Israel to freeze settlement activities has become an international not just a Palestinian requirement for effective peace talks.

As we have said, we believe that Israel should act in conformity with international law in respect of the construction of the separation barrier and settlement activities.

Settlement activities have been accompanied by disturbing information concerning plans to establish permanent links between several West Bank settlements, particularly in East Jerusalem and its environs.

According to the road map, Israel is obliged to freeze its settlement activities and to dismantle outposts in the West Bank constructed since March 2001.

In that context, we would voice our concern at the unilateral measures taken by Israel in the outskirts of Jerusalem, especially with respect to settlement activities and the construction of the separation wall.

Clearly, the two main obstacles to the peace process are the construction and continued extension of the wall, which run counter to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. The opinion called for the dismantlement of the wall and for an end to the continued expansion of the settlements and to the construction of further settlements in the West Bank and in the occupied Arab Syrian Golan.

But a return to the 1967 borders would mean that large settlement blocks as well as smaller settlements and East Jerusalem would be part of the Palestinians state.

Few of them are democracies, and not one of them holds Israel to task for its settlement policies in the West Bank or cares, like the United States, about Middle East peace.

In this regard, all Israeli settlement activities, including the unlawful construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, must be condemned and firmly rejected by the international community.

The meetings highlight the most pressing issues, such as the root cause of the conflict, as well as the need to end violence and settlement activities and to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian population.

With the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, the area became a major settlement, founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada and later capital of the Spanish provinces and the seat of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.

The Secretary General further states in the same paragraph, Government sponsored settlement activity may have a negative impact on the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territory and thus remains a source of serious concern .

It points out that lack of action to remove illegal settlement outposts erected since 2001 has severely undermined trust in Israel's intentions and that Government sponsored settlement activity has a negative impact on the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territory and thus remains a source of serious concern.

According to the road map, Israel has an obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and immediately dismantle outposts erected illegally since March 2001.

It is equally important for Israel to stop settlement activity, lift curfews and ease restrictions on the movement of persons and goods and thereby significantly improve the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.

Key challenges

b Total public debt denominated in pesos and foreign currency.

Main responsibilities

General Committee