Friday, November 27, 2009

Israel approves 28 schools for West Bank settlements

Israel's government has approved 28 new schools for settlements in the West Bank, a day after it announced a 10-month halt to new residential building.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak said construction would completed before the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.

Settlers have been angered by the decision to limit building, although the Palestinians say it is not enough.

They refuse to restart peace talks without a total freeze and are angry the policy does not include Jerusalem.

Under the Israeli new policy, backed by the security cabinet on Wednesday, permits for new homes in the West Bank will not be approved for 10 months. But municipal buildings and hundreds of houses already under construction will still be allowed to go ahead.

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