Barak sanctions construction of 28 settlement institutions in WB

Israeli war minister Ehud Barak has sanctioned the construction of 28 new settlement institutions in the West bank that would be opened by next year, the Israeli radio said.

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a ten-month settlement freeze in the West Bank with the exception of occupied Jerusalem and 3,000 housing units under constriction along with public utilities.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) bulldozed Palestinian lands south of Jenin city in a bid to allow the expansion of the nearby settlement of Shakid.

Eyewitnesses said that huge IOF bulldozers damaged tens of dunums of Palestinian lands to pave the way for the establishment of a carpet factory for the Shakid settlement.