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Last update - 08:23 16/10/2009
Despite promises to Obama, construction continues in dozens of W. Bank settlements
By Akiva Eldar and Chaim Levinson
Tags: Obama, West Bank, Israel News 

Human rights activists monitoring the West Bank report that despite commitments Israel made to President Barack Obama's administration last month, widespread building activity commenced three weeks ago in at least 12 settlements.

The work consists of ground preparation, pouring concrete and drilling construction foundations.

This work is not part of the projects that Israel and the United States had reached an understanding on. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had agreed with the administration to complete some 2,500 housing units that were already in various stages of construction at the time.
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The dozen sites do not appear on the list of 492 new housing units that the defense ministry issued after Barak approved their construction. Work on these units began after the list was released.

The construction sites are located in the settlements Carmel, Kiryat Arba, Betar Ilit, Elazar, Shilo, Talmon, Nili, Yitzhar, Bracha and Rosh Tzurim.

Customary planning procedures in the West Bank stipulate that no ground preparing work may be carried out without the defense minister's permit. The minister may only allow the work after the construction plan has been issued and after the period for presenting objections has passed, or after the objections have been rejected.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) gave the go-ahead on Thursday for several transportation projects in the West Bank. Katz met 13 local authority heads in the territories and agreed, among other things, to have the Israel National Roads Company build access roads to several settlements. The minister also approved plans to improve safety in the settlements such as entrances, sidewalks and traffic circles near schools.

Katz told Haaretz that the plans had no political significance.

In addition, West Bank roads are being renovated in the past six weeks.

800 units in 34 settlements

Construction work is also taking place in the settlements Tekoa, Nokdim, Alon Shvut, Alonei Shilo, Bakan, Givat Zeev, Dolev, Har Gilo, Talmon, Yitzhar, Kochav Yaakov, Kfar Adumim, Kfar Etzion, Mevo Horon, Matityahu, Naaleh, Etz Efraim, P'duel, Tzofim, Kedar and Kalia.

The Peace Now movement last week reported that ground preparing work for the construction of 800 housing units was being carried out in 34 settlements.

Gush Etzion council head Shaul Goldstein commented: "Peace Now's sole purpose is provocation and dispute-mongering. They are a foreign agent sent by foreign governments, monitoring completely legal construction of people who love the nation and country. It's time Peace Now disappeared."
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  1.   continuing to build 08:40  |  TC 16/10/09
  2.   Is anyone surprised? 08:52  |  Sceptic 16/10/09
  3.   And Obama will accept it or otherwise! 08:55  |  ELIAS KHOURY 16/10/09
  4.   Israel`s NEVER Kept Its Word 08:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/10/09
  5.   Israel does not want peace. 09:09  |  Maki 16/10/09
  6.   There is nothing illegitimate about Jewish settlements in ... 09:12  |  B. Gold 16/10/09
  7.   "Widespread Building Activity" 09:22  |  Natan 16/10/09
  8.   Build, build and keep on Building!!!! 09:30  |  JJ 16/10/09
  9.   Get ready... 09:53  |  Abed 16/10/09
  10.   And the Palestinians continue to incite 09:54  |  Zev 16/10/09
  11.   Time for economic sanctions on Israel 09:55  |  Michael 16/10/09
  12.   No peace is sought by Israel 09:55  |  Steve the Pals. 16/10/09
  13.   As my mother used to say: "If you don`t wanna listen....... 09:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/10/09
  14.   As could be expected 10:03  |  Axel 16/10/09
  15.   keep it up, guys 10:03  |  Colin Wright 16/10/09
  16.   I Promise That We Will Continue Building Here In OUR Land 10:07  |  Yishai Kohen 16/10/09
  17.   With Allies Like ISRAEL Why Are We Calling OTHERS Enemies? 10:09  |  U.S. Pal Defender 16/10/09
  18.   The true progressives 10:12  |  Paul 16/10/09
  19.   SO THEN WHAT? 10:13  |  Stephen Connor 16/10/09
  20.   U.S. Pal Defender - Really... How quickly you forgot about 9/11 16:14  |  BBB 16/10/09
  21.   Connor`s "ultimate question" 16:35  |  SDHD 16/10/09
  22.   no freeze, no money 21:06  |  gromansky 16/10/09
  23.   stop the insanity 21:37  |  StevieT 16/10/09
  24.   enjoy the coming binational state, Yishai Kohen 21:56  |  newageblues 16/10/09
  25.   Re: Israel`s right to build in OT 21:59  |  Gary 16/10/09
  26.   sad and stupid 22:44  |  one 16/10/09
  27.   #21 SDHD 22:49  |  Courcey 16/10/09
  28.   fixing sidewalks 22:55  |  nat 16/10/09
  29.   Geneva Initiative poll does not substantiate this policy... 23:12  |  Smadar 16/10/09
  30.   to #20 BBB - who attacks who??? 23:46  |  gly 16/10/09
  31.   Zionism is committing national suicide, one settlement at a time 00:28  |  peacelover 17/10/09
  32.   anyone believing bibi is gullible 01:43  |  VIPER 17/10/09
  33.   yishai 01:52  |  michael 17/10/09
  34.   Keep building ? the more the better! 03:05  |  Israeli 17/10/09
  35.   Wrong Terminology & Wrong Signals!!!!!! 04:16  |  BJM 17/10/09
  36.   EXCELLENT. 06:15  |  flower, USA 17/10/09
  37.   Keep on Building! 06:16  |  Israeli 17/10/09
  38.   To # 3 06:41  |  pal 17/10/09
  39.   The fundamental truth 13:59  |  Brod 17/10/09
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