Israel to Jump-start its Settlement Expansion

Israel is to allocate $ 250 million to further expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank territories over the next two years despite international objections.

The figure is contained in the 2009-2010 budget, which passed its first reading in the Knesset (parliament) last week, army radio said Sunday.

The move by the Knesset comes despite calls by the international community including Tel Aviv's staunch ally--Washington-- to Israel to halt its settlement expansion.

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