Israel Ratchets Up Settlement Construction in the West Bank

According to a report released in August by the Israeli organization "Peace Now," Israel has nearly doubled settlement construction in the first half of 2008 as compared to the same time frame in 2007.  In the first half of 2008, Israel began construction of approximately 2,600 housing units in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank territories. 

At least 425 new buildings have gone up in settlement "outposts" far into the heart of the West Bank .

New government bids for construction of housing units in East Jerusalem have gone up from 46 units in 2007 to 1,761 units in the first half of 2008. 

The number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank is currently estimated at 400,000.

Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law and have been condemned repeatedly by the United Nations and many governments throughout the world. 

The program of Israeli settlements is part of the program of U.S. imperialism, and its police dog, Israeli zionism, to permanently annex large sections of the occupied West Bank to Israel and thus effectively prevent the establishment of any viable, independent Palestinian State .