(IsraelNN.com) A "Peace Now" report finds that Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) has nearly doubled, mostly east of the partition wall.

The ultra-left radical organization, which seeks a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria - areas of Israel populated by hundreds of thousands of Jews - states that the rate of new construction in Yesha has jumped 180% compared to last year.  It further finds that 55% of the new construction is happening east of the partition wall, most of which is designated by the Road Map plan for a future Palestinian Authority state.

MK Uri Ariel responded with good cheer. "Finally, after years of Peace Now causing strife and dissention in our society, it finally brings Israel some good news," said the National Religious Party/National Union party whip.

"As usual, however," he added, "Peace Now is not perfectly accurate.  The construction is private and not government-funded, it is within the towns' borders and not expansion, and is much less widespread than the report states.  And the main point is that it is much less than is necessary."

MK Ariel then summed up the nationalist camp position in a nutshell:  "As usual, the extreme left-wing ignores some fundamental facts: One, the demand for apartments in Judea and Samaria is strong, consistent, and growing.  Two, the future of Israel lies only in the development of Israel's only remaining lands - the Samarian hills, the Biblical birthplace of the Jewish Nation."

Media is Like Bil'am
Dr. Ron Breiman, spokesman for the nationalist HaTikvah movement, also expressed satisfaction at the data in the Peace Now report, but had some words for Israel's media: "The press is granting free publicity to Peace Now, but, like Bil'am of the Bible, he wished to curse [us] but ended up blessing [us]."
 
Peace Now reports that 1,000 buildings are currently under construction in Judea and Samaria, for a total of 2,600 housing units.  Most of the building is taking place in Jewish neighborhoods of eastern/northern Jerusalem, such as Pisgat Ze'ev and Har Homa, liberated during the Six Day War.

The rate of construction tender issuance in eastern Jerusalem has nearly doubled this year compared with 2007, the report states.  Nearly 800 tenders were issued in 2007, and 1,014 in the first eight months of this year.

Oppenheimer Laments Loss of Green Line
Peace Now chairman Yariv Oppenheimer lamented, "Israel is erasing the Green Line [the separation between pre-1967 Israel and Judea/Samaria - ed.] by intensive construction designed to create contiguity between settlement blocs and isolated settlements. The Jewish presence often extends up to the edges of Palestinian cities. Continuing this policy will make it impossible to separate between the Israelis and the Palestinians."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, meeting in Jerusalem Tuesday morning, reacted coolly to the Peace Now report.  Rice told reporters that Israel would be well-advised to only carry out actions that help the peace process along.

FM Livni Not Bothered
Livni said, "I will not allow the talks to be harmed by the settlements...  The peace process need not be affected by the settlements. We are talking now about the borders of a Palestinian state. We have been talking about settlements for more than 40 years; it's part of the negotiations... I understand that this is a frustrating issue for the Palestinians. [But] even when there was terrorism, I didn't let that affect the negotiations... Just a year ago, there was much terrorism, but now we're at a point of hope."

Both Livni and Rice expressed optimism over the talks between Israel and the PA, but implied that an agreement was not yet in the offing.  Possibly because of her upcoming primaries race against Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz for Kadima party leadership - in which Livni is perceived as much more dovish than Mofaz - Livni is opposed to releasing an interim report on the state of the talks, or to setting a timeline. She said that premature attempts to bridge gaps could lead to violence, as has happened in the past.

Rice said, "I don't think anyone has been trying to bring pressure to bridge the gaps. What we've been trying to do is to help the parties see how their own conversations might converge."