Palestinian officials have again insisted that that there must be a halt to the construction of new Israeli settlements before peace talks can recommence. A “halt for all settlement activity including natural growth and Jerusalem” is one of the prerequisites in the 2003 peace plan road map. Israel has yet to respond to the statement.

Israel has beefed up security around its defense minister in response to death threats from Jewish extremists angry over new restrictions on construction in West Bank settlements, security officials said Wednesday.

Deutsche Welle - The European Union has urged Israel to reconsider plans to build 700 new homes in East Jerusalem. The EU said it was illegal under international law to construct further settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Angry settlers beat and seriously injured a female Israeli police officer Tuesday, police said, as she tried to enforce a government ban on new housing construction in Jewish West Bank settlements.

We're barely a week into the new phase of a freeze on the construction of Jewish towns in the West Bank and events are unfolding very quickly. Visit