JERUSALEM, June 18 (Reuters) - Israel's nationalist-religious government on Sunday tabled plans to approve thousands of building permits in the occupied West Bank, despite U.S. pressure to halt settlement expansion that Washington sees as an obstacle to peace with Palestinians.
"We will continue to develop the settlement of and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds a defence portfolio that gives him a leading role in West Bank administration.
Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as their capital.
Since entering office in January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition has approved the promotion of more than 7,000 new housing units, most deep in the West Bank.
In response to Sunday's Israeli decision, the Palestinian Authority - which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank - said it would boycott a meeting of the Joint Economic Committee with Israel scheduled for Monday.
Persons:
Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Shlomo Ne'eman, Emily Rose, Nidal, Mark Heinrich Our
Organizations:
West Bank, Washington, Planning, West, United, Palestinian Authority, Israel, Hamas, Gush, Gush Etzion Regional Council, Yesha, Thomson
Locations:
West Bank, Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, United States, Palestinian, Judea, Samaria, Jordan, Gush Etzion, Jerusalem