We are being assured by world leaders that they agree Israeli colony expansion must be stopped.

They say the expansion of colonies in the Occupied Territories is an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and the creation of a viable independent Palestinian state. But the question is, what are they doing about it? Nothing really.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed yesterday to continue the construction of homes in Jewish colonies in the West Bank, less than a week after US President Barack Obama called on the Israeli government to halt such actions.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last Tuesday that Obama wanted to ban any kind of colonising activity, including what the Israelis call 'natural growth'.

On Sunday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who arrived in the UAE yesterday, joined the US in calling for a halt to colony construction in the Occupied Territories, saying "it hinders peace" in the region.

These are fine words. But the Palestinians rightly feel that hypocrisy is at work here. There are almost 300,000 Israelis living in 121 colonies in the West Bank. Israel has also approved a plan recently to build more units in and around occupied Jerusalem.

So where do we go from here? We know the Arab League is an ineffective body that has watched helplessly as the Palestinian land has been carved up by Israeli colonies year after year.

The logical thing is for Obama and Sarkozy to back their words with deeds. Israel must be held accountable, as it will not stop hindering the peace process unless the international community steps up pressure on it.

It is time international sanctions were imposed on Israel. Otherwise, in few years, there will be no Palestinian land left to speak of.