Israel’s foreign minister cleared the way for 1,000 apartments in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, just days before peace talks with Palestine were set to resume. Housing Minister Uri Ariel said nearly 800 apartments will be built in east Jerusalem and 400 in several large West Bank settlements. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he would not resume peace talks unless there is a housing settlement freeze, but he relented under U.S. pressure.
