Israel OKs 277 new homes in West Bank settlement (AP)

JERUSALEM ? Israel's defense minister has approved the building of 277 apartments in a West Bank settlement, defying U.S. criticism of continued construction on lands the Palestinians claim for a state.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized the construction in Ariel, the core of the settlement bloc deepest inside the West Bank. One hundred of the apartments will house Israelis evacuated in 2005 from a Gaza Strip settlement.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had no immediate comment Monday on the diplomatically charged move.

In recent weeks, Israel has also moved ahead on two other construction projects in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians' hoped-for capital. The U.S. was critical of those plans.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110815/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

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