The G-8 - Group of Eight richest nations - has also called on Israel to stop building in the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria. It issued a statement on Friday calling for a "freeze in settlement activity (as well as their 'natural growth')." The statement equated this demand with a call for an "unequivocal end to violence and terrorism."
Cabinet Minister Binyamin Begin (Likud) visited the Jewish town of Beit El, in southern Samaria, last week, and committed to work on behalf of the community. “Like Netanyahu announced at Bar Ilan [Universit, the government will allow natural development in Judea and Samaria,” Begin assured residents. He said he pictures Beit El in 20 years “like it is today, but flourishing even more.”
More than 270,000 Jews lived in Judea and Samaria as of 2007. Jewish population growth in the area is estimated at 5-6 percent per year, a much higher growth rate than that in the rest of the country.
According to Israeli demographers, an estimated 1.35 Palestinian Authority Arabs lived in Judea and Samaria as of 2004.