以色列25年来首次批准建设全新犹太人定居点

Israel's security cabinet has approved the country's first new Jewish settlement in the West Bank in 25 years, while it holds talks with the U.S. on future activity.

Jewish homes built in the West Bank since 1992 were expansions of previously built settlements. The construction approved Thursday near Shilo will be the first completely new one.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised new homes for the hundreds of settlers forced to abandon the Amona settlement, which the Supreme Court declared was illegally built on Palestinian land. It was destroyed.

The new settlement will be built close to the former Amona site in the West Bank on land the Palestinians want as part of a future state.

Palestinians regard ongoing Jewish settlement activity as the major impediment to peace.

Much of the United Nations regards Jewish settlements as illegal. But the Trump White House has not followed the former Obama administration in quickly condemning the Israeli policy.

"While the existence of settlements is not in itself an impediment to peace, further unrestrained activity does not help advance peace," a White House official said Thursday.

The official said the White House welcomes Israel's stated intent to consider President Trump's concerns when it adopts a policy on settlement activity. Israeli and U.S. officials have been holding talks on setting guidelines for new settlements.