Israel approves new settlement construction

Israel has approved the construction of fifty new housing units in an existing settlement in the West Bank, army radio reported on Monday. The approval came from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak for the construction of 240 new homes in the Talmon settlement, northwest of the Palestinian city of Ramallah.

The move comes in defiance of US calls to freeze settlement growth. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised not to build new settlements, but has vowed not to stop the “natural growth” of existing settlements.