on West Bank Brussels, April 7, SPA -- Closing ranks with Washington,the European Union expressed concern Thursday over plans byIsrael to build 3,500 new housing units in Maale Adumim _home to 30,000 Israelis in the desert three miles (fivekilometers) east of Jerusalem _ and expand two othersettlement blocks in the West Bank. The EU said it deplored "the negative impact" that theplan, announced last month, will have at a time "when agenuine window of opportunity exists to relaunch the peaceprocess." "The continuation of settlement activity by Israel wouldbe a violation of international humanitarian law," it saidin a statement. It added that the move would run counter toIsrael's commitments under the roadmap to peace plan,authored by the United States, the EU, Russia and the U.N. "Although the European Union is encouraged by theprospect of the dismantling of settlements in Gaza andparts of the West Bank, it calls on Israel to observe itsobligations, to freeze all settlement activity and todismantle outposts," the EU statement said. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government plans to evacuateGaza this summer, relocating 1,600 Israeli families at anestimated cost of US$1 billion (¤780 million). The UnitedStates and the EU do not want Gaza families resettled intonew homes in the West Bank. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saidIsrael's plan to expand Maale Adumim was "at odds withAmerican policy" and could threaten peace with thePalestinians. --SPA1325 Local Time 1025 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/252806