Statistics show that 120 Jewish settlements expanded during the "freeze"

As the ramifications of the Israeli decision not to extend the moratorium on settlement building are being digested, statistics released by the Land Research Centre show that 120 illegal Jewish settlements were expanded during the 10 months of the supposed “freeze”. The centre’s director, Jamal Talab, said that contrary to popular opinion, “settlement activities haven’t stopped over the past 10 months”. The expansion of the 120 settlements is thought to be in respect of 1,520 housing units.

---

According to Mr. Talab, Israel has prepared contracts for the construction of 2066 units for settlements in addition to plans for construction of 37,679 additional units in the future. He said that large areas of Palestinian land were annexed during the “settlement freeze”, agricultural land was destroyed, 280 homes and other structures were demolished, and 13 Palestinian homes were seized by settlers. The statistics reveal, according to Mr. Talab, that Israel intends to demolish a further 830 Palestinian buildings. Over the past ten months during which this freeze is supposed to have been in place, Israel has refused permission for 10 roads to be paved in Palestinian areas, whereas illegal settlers have had paving installed on 28 roads built exclusively for their use.