Israel approves hundreds of new settler homes after attacks

Israel has approved hundreds of new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an official said, in a move denounced by UN Chief, Ban Ki-moon, and likely to further raise tensions following a series of Palestinian attacks.

The approval comes days after a key international report warned that Israel’s settlement expansion and confiscation of Palestinian land were eroding the possibility of a two-state peace settlement.

The report from the diplomatic Quartet — the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia — also called on Palestinians to halt attacks and incitement to violence.

Under the new approval granted by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, planning for 560 new Jewish homes in the large Maale Adumim settlement east of Jerusalem will be allowed to move forward.

The Maale Adumim mayor was informed of the decision on Sunday night, a spokesperson for his office told foreign media. The settlement founded in 1975 already has a population of more than 37,000.

Netanyahu also gave approval for the planning of 240 new homes in settlement neighbourhoods of annexed east Jerusalem, as well as for 600 units for Palestinians in the city’s Beit Safafa district, media reported.

The offices of Netanyahu and Lieberman refused to comment on the reported approvals, which follow calls inside Israel for a harsh response to the latest spate of Palestinian attacks.

On Thursday, 13-year-old Israeli-American, Hallel Yaffa Ariel was fatally stabbed in Kiryat Arba settlement on the outskirts of the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.

Her 19-year-old Palestinian assailant was then shot dead by a security guard.

A day later, Sarah Tarayra, 27, was shot dead after drawing a knife on Israeli forces in Hebron. She was a relative of the Kiryat Arba attacker.

Also last Friday, 48-year-old Israeli Michael Mark was killed when his car was fired on by suspected Palestinian gunmen south of Hebron.

The same day, Israel announced a lockdown in Hebron as it searched for the gunmen and it reduced the monthly tax payments to the Palestinian Authority as a retaliatory measure.

Israel transfers around $127 million in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports monthly.

The measures, which also included increasing Israel’s military presence in the West Bank, were described by the army as “the most substantial” in two years.

UN chief Ban was “deeply disappointed” that Israel’s decision to expand settlements came just days after the Quartet’s report, his spokesperson said.