By SPA
Tel Aviv : A dovish Israeli group says construction in West Bank settlements has continued despite Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
‘Peace Now’ group says in a new report Monday that more than 500 buildings are under construction in settlements. The group says Israel’s Defense Ministry has approved nearly 1,000
new housing units in the West Bank.
In east Jerusalem, ‘Peace Now’ group says the government gave final approval for at least 750 housing units since peace talks were launched four months ago. The group says that contrasts with the only 46 units approved in all of 2007 before talks began.
Government spokesman Mark Regev says Israel remains committed to talks and that the government never promised a total settlement freeze. He says no new settlements are being built and settlements are not being outwardly expanded.