Israel okays 942 new E Jerusalem settler homes

Jerusalem city council on Monday approved the construction of 942 new homes in Gilo, a settlement neighbourhood in the city's eastern sector, a councillor told AFP. Elisha Peleg, a councillor from the right-wing Likud party, confirmed that the new construction in Gilo, close to the West Bank city of Bethlehem, had been approved during an afternoon session of the district planning council.
"Of course we approved it, it is only the first step," he told AFP, saying it was approved by five in favour and one against. The move came a day ahead of a top-level meeting at the White House between Israeli President Shimon Peres and US President Barack Obama.