Palestinian construction workers build a new building complex to be housed by Israelis in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, Monday, April 27, 2009. The Palestinians won't be pressured into resuming peace talks with Israel as long as construction in Jewish settlements continues, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a tough speech Monday. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) (Sebastian Scheiner - AP) Israel Built, Planned 9,000 Homes On War-Won Land -- Washington Post
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel's previous government built or issued bids for some 9,000 homes for Israelis in Jerusalem and the West Bank, despite its promise to pursue a peace deal with the Palestinians, settlement monitors said Monday, summarizing Ehud Olmert's three years as prime minister.
The Israeli watchdog groups Peace Now and Ir Amim urged President Barack Obama to step in quickly and pressure Israel's new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to halt further settlement expansion, particularly in the areas of Jerusalem the Palestinians want for their future capital.
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My Comment: Land is the issue and heart to the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians. With a new conservative government in power, this trend to gobble up more territory and build more settlements will only increase. Tensions between both parties can only increase as this continues .... and any hope for a settlement gets harder and harder every year.