Quds, March 08, 2010, SPA -- Israel authorized the construction of 112 new apartments in the West Bank despite a pledge to slowdown settlement building, the government disclosed Monday. Word of the new construction in the Beitar Illit settlement came amid a flurry of activity by the U.S. to try to salvage peacemaking between Israel and Palestinians, according to a report of the Associated Press. Vice President Joseph Biden is due to land later Monday on the highest-level visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by an Obama administration official. Washington's special envoy to the Mideast, George Mitchell, was also in the area, meeting Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Sunday, Palestinian leaders agreed to hold U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel for four months, ending a 14-month breakdown. On Monday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of trying to undermine the talks even before they began. «If the Israeli government wants to sabotage Mitchell's efforts by taking such steps, let's talk to Mitchell about maybe not doing this (indirect talks) if the price is so high,» Erekat said. Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now also questioned Israel's motives. «The Israeli government is welcoming the (U.S.) vice president by demonstrating, to our regret, that it has no genuine intention to advance the peace process,» said the group's settlement expert, Hagit Ofran. Israel accepted the indirect talks last week. It is not clear when the talks will officially begin.
