Tel Aviv, April 08, SPA -- A top Israeli official has reportedlysaid a large Jewish settlement in the West Bank was builton private Palestinian land. The Haaretz daily says the comments by Vice Premier HaimRamon confirm that construction of the Ofra settlementviolated a 1979 Supreme Court order. Haaretz said in its report Tuesday that Ramon got hisinformation about the settlement from Israel's defenseministry. It says this information could have legalimplications for Palestinians seeking compensation for landclaims. The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank for a futureindependent state. About 270,000 Israelis live in West Banksettlements. Haaretz says that Ramon made the remarks to aparliamentary committee in February. It wasn't clear whythe remarks were only made public on Tuesday, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/544087