On her seventh visit to the region to move the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians forward, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that reports of construction in the settlements are not helpful to the peace process. Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni declared that Israel's policy is not to expand the existing settlements and she believes there has been a reduction in activity.Peace Now however claims that construction in the West Bank settlements has doubled in the past year.08/26/08