Israel plans more than 1,500 new settlement homes


October 30, 2013 at 4:33p.m.

Israel plans more than 1,500 new settlement homes

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel announced plans today to build more than 1,500 homes in Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, dealing a setback to newly relaunched peace efforts hours after it had freed a group of long-serving Palestinian prisoners. The construction plans drew angry condemnations from Palestinian officials, who accused Israel of undermining the U.S.-led talks by expanding settlements on the lands where they hope to establish an independent state. In New York, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the Israeli decision.