The Israeli government has approved the construction of hundreds of homes in West Bank settlements, the prime minister's office said Sunday. This came after three children and their parents were slaughtered in a settlement over the weekend. Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Palestinian Authority of incitement and the international community of hypocrisy following the attack.
The construction, approved Saturday night by the Cabinet's ministerial team on settlements, would take place in major settlement blocs that Israel expects to hold on to in any final peace deal, the prime minister's office said, according to the AP.
Israeli security forces were on alert Sunday for possible settler retaliation against Palestinians. The general security level around the country was raised, with a special emphasis on the West Bank and Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
