Israel announces $12.9m boost to West Bank settlements

The plan came days after Netanyahu approved the construction of hundreds of new homes in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, drawing a harsh rebuke from the U.S. State Department.

Since September, Palestinians have killed 34 Israelis and two visiting Americans in dozens of attacks.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby criticized the authorization of new homes last week as "fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution."