Israel Approves Hundreds of New West Bank Homes

Israel appears to be taking advantage of our distraction elsewhere (since all these homes would be illegal under our pacts):

Israel was on collision course with its US ally again after it approved the construction of hundreds of new houses in one of the largest and most controversial of the West Bank settlements.

Just days after the government was reprimanded over plans for 600 new homes in the largest of the Jewish settlements, Maale Adumin, news emerged that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had signed permits for the construction of the housing units on the western fringes of Ariel.

The Maariv daily reported that the go-ahead for 300 houses, which would be in contravention of the US-backed roadmap for peace plan, was agreed three months ago.