Israel land expropriation plan angers Palestinians

By Joseph Nasr and Ali Sawafta

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has angered Palestinians with a plan to expropriate plots of West Bank land between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea including areas exposed by the lake's receding water levels.

A spokesman for Israel's Civil Administration Authority, an arm of the Defence Ministry, said on Monday it advertised in the Jerusalem-based al-Quds newspaper on Friday. Palestinians who object to the move were invited to file appeals within 45 days.

"The land in question includes a strip along the shores of the Dead Sea that emerged over the years as the water receded due to shrinkage," the spokesman said.

Palestinians have been lobbying Washington to pressure Israel to halt land seizures and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

"This would be the largest area of land ever confiscated by Israel in one go since 1967. We will appeal against this decision," said Hatem Abdel-Qader, Palestinian Authority Minister for Jerusalem Affairs.

According to the ads, the land to be expropriated totals 139 sq kms (54 sq miles). It includes plots of land near the settlement of Maale Adumim, the spokesman said, without giving further details.

Maale Adumim is the largest settlement in the West Bank and one of three blocs that Israel wants to keep under any future peace deal with Palestinians.

Israel is trying to reach a deal with Washington on West Bank settlement activity, which President Barack Obama wants completely stopped. The Palestinians have said resuming stalled peace talks with Israel hinges on halting settlement building.