That followed the approval on Sunday by the Jerusalem municipality of hundreds of new homes in East Jerusalem. About 400,000 settlers live in the West Bank and a further 200,000 in East Jerusalem, which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war. The recent announcements on settlement plans for East Jerusalem and the West Bank have been seen by some as Netanyahu?s way of keeping the far right on side while avoiding the annexation issue. Beit El is a settlement near Ramallah, in which Trump?s pick for the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has been involved. A day earlier, Netanyahu had told his security cabinet that he was also lifting all restrictions on Israeli construction in occupied East Jerusalem.

For an administration that aspires to an America First foreign policy, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem puts America`s interests last, not at the head of the line. Rarely, though, has an incoming administration seemed so serious about acting on its campaign pledge. He has nominated an ambassador who already has personally endorsed the move -- and written into the statement announcing his appointment that he was looking forward to representing the US from a Jerusalem embassy. The Trump administration`s motives for raising the controversial Jerusalem issue now are varied. (CNN) Sean Spicer`s cautious comments at the White House press briefing on moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem suggest that the incoming Trump administration is taking its time considering whether to make good on the President`s campaign promise.

Story highlights Israel approves 2,500 new housing unitsPrime Minister Netanyahu says Israel will "continue to build"Jerusalem (CNN) Just days after US President Donald Trump was sworn into office, Israel approved the construction of approximately 2,500 new housing units in West Bank settlements Tuesday, according to a statement from Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump press secretary Sean Spicer was asked about the new housing units Tuesday at the White House press briefing. "(Trump) wants to grow closer with Israel to make sure that it gets the full respect that it deserves in the Middle East. The planned new homes mark one of the largest settlement expansions since 2013, according to the settlement watchdog Peace Now. "Israel continues to be a huge ally of the United States," Spicer said.

Palestinian police says Israeli troops have shot and killed a 17-year-old boy and injured five others who clashed with them. Israeli forces killed 235 Palestinians in the same period, most identified by Israel as attackers. Israel blames the violence on Palestinian incitement, while Palestinians say it stems from frustration over decades of Israeli rule. The police say the Palestinians hurled rocks at the Israeli troops, who responded with fire. Since 2015, Palestinian attackers have carried out numerous stabbings, shootings and vehicular assaults that killed 40 Israelis and two visiting Americans.

?The Palestinians wanted peace, without giving up their hatred of Israel. ?And he wanted a Palestinian state inside Israel that would be brought about by a return of Palestinian refugees and their soaring birthrate tomorrow. ?The Israelis wanted peace, while maintaining underlying control of the Palestinians,? he said in 2000. In 1986, Mr. Cohen was the catalyst for the first three clandestine sessions in Paris and Brussels between Israeli and Palestinian representatives, two from each side. Israel was ready to give him one Palestinian state, but not two.