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Written by Jewish Telegraph Agency Jewish Telegraph Agency
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Category: News News
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Published: 31 March 2008 31 March 2008
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Last Updated: 31 March 2008 31 March 2008
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Created: 31 March 2008 31 March 2008
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Report: Settlement building up since Annapolis
JTA
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/107805.html
Jewish construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem has increased since Annapolis, a Peace Now report found.
Though Israel promised to freeze construction in the settlements at the
Annapolis peace conference in November 2007, the left-wing organization
said in its report released Monday that the construction has continued
and increased.
Construction has taken place in 101 settlements, excluding East
Jerusalem, in the past four months, according to the report. About 275
new buildings were started since Annapolis, with 20 percent of the
construction taking place east of the national security fence. In
addition, the Defense Ministry has approved plans for the construction
of 946 units.
In eastern Jerusalem, tenders for the construction of 750 housing units
were granted after the summit, while in the year before the summit only
46 housing units were approved.
The report also found that there was construction in 58 "illegal
outposts," including 16 permanent structures, and that none were
evacuated.
"Any construction in the settlements, including the settlement blocs
and East Jerusalem, simply reinforce the opinion of Palestinian
extremists who see this as 'proof' that Israel does not truly want
peace, that there is no use to talk with Israel, but instead, one has
to fight Israel with force," the report said.