Ankara blasts settlement building

Turkey strongly condemned Israel for approving the building of new homes in West Bank settlements, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The comments came in response to the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction's publishing of tenders for 336 housing units in West Bank settlements last week. "Israel's illegal actions on the lands it has invaded are unacceptable," the statement said. "This decision will deepen the suspicions of Israel's sincerity in pushing the peace process forward. We stress that we don't recognize the illegal steps Israel is taking, challenging international law," the statement published by the Hurriyet Daily News said Monday. According to the tender, 294 new homes will be built in Beitar Illit outside Jerusalem and 42 units in Karnei Shomron near Kfar Saba, The Jerusalem Post said. In April the Defense Ministry approved the construction of the homes in Beitar Illit, the Post said. Both West Bank settlements are located within the settlement blocs Israel believes will be included in its permanent borders once a final status agreement with the Palestinians is achieved, the Post said.