A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the Israeli plans announced Tuesday deal a new blow to attempts to bring peace to the region and will promote extremism and terrorism.
Nabil Abu Rdeneh says the decision "disregards" international opposition to the settlements and is calling on the international community to take a "real and serious position" against Israel.
The Palestinians say settlements are undermining peace hopes by gobbling up the land where they hope to establish an independent state. Their position is backed by most of the world, but the new Trump administration has hinted it will be more tolerant of Israeli settlement activity.
Israel says it has approved 2,500 West Bank settlement homes.
In a statement from his office Tuesday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the approval "in response to housing needs." He says the majority of the housing units will be built in settlement blocs, areas where most settlers live and which Israel wants to keep under its control under any future peace deal with the Palestinians.
The election of U.S. President Donald Trump has emboldened pro-settlement lawmakers, including Lieberman and Netanyahu. Trump has indicated that he will be more sympathetic to Israeli settlement construction.
Much of the international community views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
AP
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