NPR's Linda Gradstein reports Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has authorized construction in Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank at a pace that exceeds that of his predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu. Palestinians and peace groups had hoped that in his stated quest for peace, Barak would freeze settlement building. The US has called settlement building an impediment to peace. But in his first three months in office there has been no freeze.
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