Barak promises to act against illegal West Bank settlements

Israeli premier Ehud Barak said Wednesday his government would act against all illegal West Bank settlements, erected after last year's wye river peace accord.

Barak, at a joint news conference with visiting Finnish president Marti Ahtisaari in west Jerusalem, did not specify whether he would deal with all Jewish settlements constructed after the wye accord or a certain number of housting units which have political dimensions''.

The Israeli government approved early this week the construction of 2,600 housting units in Maale Udamin in east Jerusalem.

It also gave the green light to the confiscation of over 5,000 acres in the west bank, mainly in Al-Khalil (Hebron) and along the ceasefire line between the West Bank and Israel.

Barak criticized Palestinian officials for saying there were no major differences between his government and the former likud cabinet.

He said this comparison was untrue and alleged that his government was committed to the peace process.