Israel has moved swiftly to quash a new row over its settlements, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office slapping down a minister who announced plans to build thousands of homes in the West Bank. The Palestinians accused Israel of wrecking US President George Bush's two-state vision for the Middle East after deputy defence minister Zeev Boim on Monday said 3000 housing units would be built in the northern settlement of Ariel. "The government's decision to build 3000 additional housing units in Ariel is an expression of our desire to strengthen the settlement blocs," Boim said in comments carried by Israeli radio.But Sharon's office issued a statement denying that any such plans, which would be in direct contravention of the internationally-drafted "roadmap" peace plan, were on the table. "The prime minister's office and Defence Ministry have no knowledge whatsoever of authorisation to construct or build 3000 new housing units in Ariel," an official in Sharon's office told AFP in a statement. The official said only that plans had previously been approved for little more than 100 new homes in Ariel, about 20km inside the Palestinian territory. "What was authorised and approved in Ariel was the marketing of 117 dwelling units only within the city of Ariel," he said.