Jewish settlements

Israel approves plans for 2,500 new settlement homes

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they had agreed to the move "in response to housing needs".

Palestinian officials said the plans undermined peace hopes by building on land they want for a future state.

It is the second such announcement by the Israeli authorities since US President Donald Trump took office.

Mr Trump has indicated that he will be more sympathetic to settlement construction than his predecessor, Barack Obama, and has appointed a staunch settlement supporter as his ambassador to Israel.