News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) A new report published by Peace Now on Monday shows that instead of a freeze in the construction of towns in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem following the November 2007 Annapolis conference, building in the regions has actually increased.

Investigations conducted by the radical post-Zionist group reveal tenders for 750 housing units in eastern Jerusalem following the conference, as opposed to the 46 tenders issued last year. Over 100 Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are growing, with thousands of housing units under construction, to the consternation of the radical leftist group.  According to Peace Now, about 20 of the building projects are being carried out east of the separation fence's route. 

Peace Now also claims the government has enabled the expansion of so-called "illegal outposts", with 58 outposts registering construction over the last 3 months, 36 new caravans being set down, and 16 permanent structures erected, with 8 more in the works.

Peace Now says the Annapolis Summit has been reduced "to the point of ineffectiveness, until, in the end, almost nothing is left of the promise that Israel would freeze construction in the settlements."