Jerusalem - Israel has approved the construction of 2 500 settler homes in the occupied West Bank, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, making good on promises to expand such building following the election of US President Donald Trump.
The plans, approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, marked the largest recent announcement of settlement building by Israel.
Israel must face international action over a major expansion of settlement building announced on Tuesday following US President Donald Trump's inauguration, a top Palestinian official said.
"The international community must hold Israel accountable immediately for what it is doing," Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary general Saeb Erekat told AFP.
He added that Israel had been emboldened by "what they consider encouragement by American President Donald Trump."
