Breaking a promised 10-month stay on settlement construction activities in the West Bank, Israel has authorized the building of 112 new apartments in a Jewish settlement in the region.
Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday the proposed apartments in the settlement of Beitar Illit, which has a mostly Orthodox Jewish population, was needed to fill a potentially dangerous 40-yard gap between two existing buildings.
It clarified that building permits were issued under the previous government of Ehud Olmert and before the suspension of settlement was announced.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the development, which comes a day after Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank agreed to indirect talks with Israel, will put the talks at risk.
The announcement coincides with the visit of U.S. Vice- President Joseph Biden to the region.
Biden, who is scheduled to land later Monday, is the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories since Barack Obama took office. George Mitchell, the Obama administration's special envoy to the Mideast, is also meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Jewish construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is a particularly sore point with the Palestinians because it challenges their claims to lands they want for a future State.
All settlements in the two regions are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
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