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Talk......and different action!

The Annapolis meeting on the Middle East is hardly past - and the talk of the Israelis and Palestinians moving toward some sort of peace - and PM Olmert, in particular, has seemingly made all the right noises about peace, etc.

Talk is one thing! Action speaks volumes, as this Newsweek report clearly shows. Israel is once again cocking its nose at the Palestinians and the world. Will the US, or anyone else speak out? Doubtful. In the process the peace process will further recede into the mist.

"Israel announced plans Tuesday to build more than 300 new homes in a disputed east Jerusalem neighborhood, drawing quick Palestinian condemnation that the move will undermine newly revived peace talks.

The new housing would expand Har Homa, a Jewish neighborhood in an area Palestinians claim as capital of a future state. Palestinian officials appealed to the U.S. to block the project, but Israel says a pledge to halt settlement activity does not apply anywhere in the holy city.

The plan focuses attention on one of the most difficult issues facing Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in peace talks that are supposed to resume this month - the future of Jerusalem."

The BBC reports on another aspect of Israel's actions - or rather, inaction, in adhering and following orders for giving effect to demolition orders. In fact, over 10 years and 3500 demolition orders, Israel has complied with just over 100.

"Israel has carried out only 3% of its own demolition orders in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Israeli anti-settlement campaigners say.

In the past 10 years, nearly 3,500 demolition orders were issued but just over 100 were observed, the Peace Now group says, citing government figures.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has asked the US to block Israeli plans for 300 new homes in east Jerusalem.

Israel argues that the building does not contravene its peace commitments.

The Israeli housing ministry has announced a tender for 307 housing units in the Har Homa settlement.

It is the first such move since Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were relaunched at the US-sponsored meeting in Annapolis last week.

According to Peace Now, the Israeli military handed it 3,449 files on illegal buildings in settlements over the past decade but only 107 have been dismantled.

A further 171 structures were evacuated by their tenants.

"On the one hand Israel promises not to build new settlements and not to develop the existing settlements... but in reality the construction works continue vigorously," the group said in its report."

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