A little girl observes a tank in Gaza. Israel approved the construction of hundreds of new houses in one of the largest and most controversial of the West Bank settlements. Photo by WN
Israel was on collision course with US 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 received a slap on the wrist over plans for 600 new homes in the largest of the Jewish settlements, Maale Adumin, news emerged that Defence 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. But tenders had not yet been issued due to "diplomatic considerations".