The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Monday accused Israel of putting obstacles on the Road Map peace plan by continuing settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories.

"In both word and deed, Israel continues to ignore its obligations under the Road Map, as well as defy international demands for a stop to all settlement activity," said Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian peace negotiator, in a statement emailed to the media.

He stressed that the US-backed plan was clear in obligating Israel to stop all settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including the so-called natural growth of the blocs. He added that in the Road Map "there is no in between."

On Monday, it was reported that Israel plans to build more houses in Adam settlement to the north of Jerusalem and to confiscate nearly 34,350 acres of the West Bank's land.

The recent measures are at odds with Israel's declaration that it was considering halting settlement construction for six months to ease tension with Washington which repeatedly called for an immediate freeze of all settlement activities.

Erekat urged Israel to invest "current opportunities for peace given overwhelming international support for the two-state solution."

For the Palestinians, the Jewish settlement on their Israeli-occupied land blocks all future prospects of having an independent statehood.

Hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that at least the natural growth of the blocs can not be stopped under all circumstances.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)