Newspaper: Olmert offered to expand Gaza in exchange for settlement blocs

Newspaper: Olmert proposed expanding Gaza

JERUSALEM — The Haaretz daily says former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed giving the Palestinians 100 square kilometers (38 sq. miles) of Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip in exchange for West Bank settlement blocs.

Olmert presented this map to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2008. Abbas did not respond and negotiations ended.

The newspaper says Olmert also proposed giving an additional 227 kilometers (141 miles) of land near the West Bank. Most would have come from the Judean desert.

Abbas has told Haaretz that Olmert presented several proposed maps. Haaretz says the version it disclosed Thursday was based on sources who received detailed information about Olmert’s proposals.

In all, Olmert sought to annex 6.3 percent of the West Bank where 75 percent of the 300,000 settlers live.