But the advocacy groups say that still represents a slow-down in demolitions. Since 1967, the Israeli government has demolished some 6,000 Palestinian homes. Israeli authorities say houses are demolished because they are built illegally, without permits. Halper attributes the decline in demolitions to the political pressure mounting on Prime Minister Ehud Barak's administration. Hundreds of demolition orders in Gaza and Jerusalem were frozen in October, as the government sought to avert conflict with Arabs, according to news reports.
Israeli officials say the freeze was part of a go-slow approach.
The government recently established a special housing demolition committee to review existing policy. The committee is considering whether to recommend ending demolitions altogether, Regev said. According to a spokesman for Interior Minister Natan Sharansky, who sits on the committee, the report is slated to come out in February.