Israel Unveils Plan to Encircle Palestinian State

The Guardian: The acting Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said yesterday that he plans to annex the Jordan Valley and major Jewish settlement blocks to Israel in drawing new borders, according to a television station that recorded an interview with him yesterday.

In Mr Olmert’s first policy statement since he succeeded Ariel Sharon last month, Channel 2 television said that he made clear he intends to carry through his predecessor’s vision of creating an emasculated Palestinian state on Israel’s terms. | story