Israel Settlement Construction Criticized

JERUSALEM — Israel has allowed construction of new housing in Jewish settlements in the West Bank to more than double this year, Peace Now said Wednesday in a report likely to further anger Palestinians already frustrated with the peace process.

Construction began on 1,420 homes in the settlements in the first half of 1998, 136% more than in the same period last year, the leader of the Israeli peace activist group said in a statement.

In the second half of 1998, 640 homes were started in the settlements, 121% more than in the same period of 1997, Mossi Raz said.

Only a fraction of the houses were being built by the government itself, but private construction requires official approval, and the government assists in infrastructure.

The parliamentary finance committee on Wednesday approved $6.5 million in funds for further house construction and infrastructure in the settlements.

Settlers have placed mobile homes on nine new sites near existing settlements since October’s agreement--brokered at the Wye Plantation in Maryland--to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.