As early as 1968, just after the Six Day War, Yigal Allon had advanced a proposal to establishment a settlement somewhere in the area of Ma'ale Adumim and Jericho The government of Levi Eshkol did not implement the step because the political and diplomatic implications were significant, in that it would effectively split the West Bank. It was later opposed by Yehiel Admoni , the then head of the Settlment Department, as lying outside the scope of the. Allon Plan, and if the 'Red Ascent' were settled, it would further erode what land might remain over for restoring territory to the Palestinians in a future peace negotiation.