Israel approves construction of 366 West Bank apartments, plans 84 more

Israel approves 366 new West Bank apartments

JERUSALEM — Israel has officially approved construction of 366 new apartments in the West Bank.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that he intends to soon approve about 84 more.

This the first new construction that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hawkish government has approved since taking office in March.

It has allowed Netanyahu to cement the support of a coalition that is committed to expanding Israel’s borders into the West Bank.

But it has deepened an already unprecedented rift with the U.S. over Israeli settlement expansion.

Palestinians say they won’t resume peace talks until settlement construction comes to a complete halt.

Washington’s Mideast envoy is due in the region this week to try to bridge differences and get peace talks back on track.