Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the PA should not object to Israeli construction in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem because Israel will just hand over anything in areas ceded during talks, anyways. "There's a reality on the ground and natural population growth. People need to build kindergartens," Barak said, noting another construction freeze is not possible. "But why should the Palestinians care? If a building is constructed on land that will be transferred to them under a peace agreement, they will get the building, hence the issue if of no significance," Barak argued.
