The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will approve construction of hundreds of new homes in West Bank settlements before considering a freeze sought by Washington, a government official said. The move is certain to outrage Palestinians who consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to be a major hurdle in hobbled efforts towards a Middle East peace accord. The government official confirmed a report in the Jerusalem Post daily that said Mr Netanyahu would consider a moratorium on settlement construction only "for a few months" after the green light is given to build hundreds of new homes.
The English-language newspaper said work on 2,500 housing units which is already under way would also continue. The US administration has been pressing Israel to freeze settlement construction in a bid to restart peace talks with the Palestinians that have been at a standstill since December. * AFP