Israels regering har bemyndiget opførelsen af 3.000 nye boliger i det besatte Øst-jerusalem og Vestbredden og sat fart i godkendelsen af 1.000 andre tilladelser til jødiske bosættelser – iagttagere ser det som en hævn for FN-afstemningen torsdag.
The decision comes a day after a vote at the UN General Assembly upgraded the Palestinians’ status at the UN to that of non-member observer state, writes BBC online Friday.
The US said the expansion plan was counterproductive and would make it harder to resume peace talks.
An Israeli official said some of the new units would be built between Jerusalem and the settlement of Maaleh Adumim.
Plans to build settlements in the area, known as E1, are strongly opposed by Palestinians, who say the development will cut the West Bank in two, preventing the creation of a contiguous (sammenhængende) Palestinian state.
The move is a first indication of Israeli anger, less than 24 hours after the vote at the UN.
About 500.000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this, BBC notes.
