Israel to advance plans for 4,400 new settlement homes, mostly outside blocs

By Times of Israel— After nearly eight months without meetings, the Defense Ministry body responsible for authorizing settlement construction is slated to advance plans for over 4,400 Israeli homes in the West Bank next week. The Civil Administration’s High Planning Subcommittee will meet next Monday to sign off final approval for around 2,500 units, according…

Netanyahu, Gantz, Ashkenazi meet US envoy, amid differences on annexation

By Times of Israel Staff— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down Sunday with US Ambassador David Friedman, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin to discuss plans to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank in accordance with the Trump administration’s peace plan. Friedman has met with all the…

Tillerson criticizes U.S. decision to abstain from U.N. Israel vote

By Steven Mufson and Karoun Demirjian, Washington Post— Rex Tillerson condemned the Obama administration’s decision not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution critical of Israel’s development of settlements on the West Bank. The former ExxonMobil chief said the resolution was “not helpful” and “undermines” the conditions for peace talks to continue. He described Secretary…