Israeli government approves 1,700 new units in West Bank and Jerusalem settlements

The Israeli government is set to announce the approval of 1,700 new housing units in illegal West Bank and Jerusalem settlements. Most of the homes will be built in the Shlomo settlement in occupied Jerusalem; the rest will be in other parts of the West Bank, said Maariv newspaper.

The announcement comes as preparations are underway for the release of the second group of Palestinian prisoners to be set free as a precondition for the resumption of the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Commentators on both sides have already described the negotiations as “futile”.