TEL AVIV, February 14, 2008 (WAFA) - Three Israeli families have entered a new neighborhood being built in the southern Hebron Hills despite the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has issued a directive to halt construction in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported Thursday.

According to the report, ten new housing units have almost been completed and dozens more are planned in the new neighborhood, located outside the boundaries of Karmel.

Israeli Head of the so-called Hebron Hills Council, Tzviki Bar Chai, said that it was impossible to stop the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods and "strangle them."

In response, Israeli peace group :Peace Now" issued a statement lamenting the fact that despite orders from the Israeli prime minister to freeze construction, settlers were building hundreds of housing units in the West Bank.

"Olmert's orders are apparently not being implemented," read the statement, which called on the prime minister to enforce the construction freeze and start evacuating illegal outposts.