The cessation of Palestinian-Israeli violence will be particularly hard to sustain unless Israel freezes all settlement construction activity

Mitchell report, according to press leaks

The report appears to be even-handed, careful not to blame either side for the start of the violence. The committee concentrates instead on ways of rebuilding confidence, and so getting negotiations going again.

According to a version leaked in the Israeli press, the report says: "The cessation of Palestinian-Israeli violence will be particularly hard to sustain unless Israel freezes all settlement construction activity."

Mitchell's report has been critical of both sides

The Palestinian Authority, a leaked version of the report says, should take "all measures to prevent terrorist operations and to punish perpetrators".

The report was compiled by a committee chaired by former US Senator George Mitchell. It was set up last October to investigate the causes of the recent violence which started in September.

Headlines

The report's comment on settlement expansion has hit the headlines.

In recommending a freeze in the settlements, the commission has exceeded its prerogatives. The accords we have reached say the issue of settlements must be discussed within final status negotiations

Israeli spokesman Raanan Gissin

Israel has officially welcomed the Mitchell report, but rejected two of its main recommendations: a call for a halt to settlement building and criticisms that the Israeli army was too harsh in dealing with unarmed Palestinian demonstrators.

"In recommending a freeze in the settlements, the commission has exceeded its prerogatives. The accords we have reached say the issue of settlements must be discussed within final status negotiations," said Raanan Gissin, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister.

"We also cannot accept the part of the report criticising the so-called excessive use of force by the Israeli army while our soldiers are only acting in self-defence against terrorists," Mr Gissin said.

The continued expansion of the illegal Jewish settlements, which are scattered strategically over the West Bank and Gaza, has always been at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

There are currently about 200 settlements, ranging in size from small towns to tiny isolated outposts.

The settlements form a barrier between Israel and Palestinian towns and villages, and between East Jerusalem and its West Bank hinterland. They and the roads that link them break up the territorial continuity of the Palestinian areas.

One of the problems with this recommendation for Israelis is that the new prime minister, Ariel Sharon, is - and has been throughout his career - deeply committed to the settler movement, for ideological and military reasons.

Settlers targeted

Palestinians have consistently argued that the expansion of settlements is evidence that they will never get even a small portion of the land they claim for their state.

The Palestinian Authority was criticised for not keeping control of its security forces

When the latest intifada, or uprising, began and took hold, it became clear that settlers were seen as the enemy and targets, no less than Israeli soldiers.

Especially in Gaza, many of the security measures undertaken by Israeli forces are aimed at protecting settlers. These measures, including the levelling of Palestinian homes and fields, have in themselves contributed to the violence.

The Mitchell report, which also highlighted the Palestinian Authority's failure to exercise proper control over its security forces, has been accepted by the Palestinians in all its aspects, according to Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian mister of international co-operation.