Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said that Israel will not relinquish land to the Palestinian Authority for the sake of creating new roads for a new Arab city of Rawabi in Samaria.If Palestine doesn't recognize a Jewish state and does not allow Jews in their lands then no deal. I'm sure they will blame Israel for that... but asking for existence should not be too much to ask for.
In response to query make by Knesset Member Uri Ariel (National Union) Vilnai wrote that "The position of Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, is there is no Israeli agreement to the Palestinian request to transfer land. Palestinians were offered a number of alternatives."
He further stated that the Defense Department works with the Palestinian Authority to promote entrepreneurship consistent with Israeli interests."
MK Ariel said in response that "there was still good to see a drop of sanity in the Defense Ministry."
Rawabi is scheduled to be the first planned Arab city in Samaria, with an estimated future population of 25,000. Still in initial planning stages, the project is being funded by the government of Qatar. The United States Trade and Development Agency is helping to fund some initial studies for the project.
