(VOVworld) – Peace Now,  an Israeli settlement watchdog, reports on Tuesday that Israel approved plans for nearly 14,000 new settler homes during the nine months of peace talks with the Palestinians.

Israeli soldiers take position during clashes with Palestinian protesters demonstrating against the expansion of settlement. (photo: yahoo.com)

Figures quoted by Peace Now showed that during the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government approved new housing plans which are three times higher than by the previous administration. Israel's ongoing settlement building has weighed heavily on the negotiation process. Palestine has demanded a complete settlement freeze as one of the key conditions for any return to the crisis-hit talks. But Israel has flatly refused and rejected its impact on peace efforts.