The Latest: Palestinians condemn Israeli settlement plans

This Oct. 24, 2016, file photo shows part of the Israeli settlement of Psagot, background, overlooking Palestinian houses, in a suburb of the West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel says it has approved 2,500 homes in West Bank settlements In a statement from his office, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the approval “in response to housing needs.” He says the majority of the housing units will be built in settlement blocs, areas where most settlers live and which Israel wants to keep under its control under any future peace deal with the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) This Oct. 24, 2016, file photo shows part of the Israeli settlement of Psagot, background, overlooking Palestinian houses, in a suburb of the West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel says it has approved 2,500 homes in West Bank settlements In a statement from his office, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the approval “in response to housing needs.” He says the majority of the housing units will be built in settlement blocs, areas where most settlers live and which Israel wants to keep under its control under any future peace deal with the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

By Associated Press January 24, 2017 2 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – The Latest on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after Israel announced the construction of 2,500 new settler homes in the West Bank (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

The Palestinians are condemning Israel’s latest plans to build new settlement homes.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the Israeli plans announced Tuesday deal a new blow to attempts to bring peace to the region and will promote extremism and terrorism.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh says the decision “disregards” international opposition to the settlements and is calling on the international community to take a “real and serious position” against Israel.