JERUSALEM — Israel on Wednesday approved construction of nearly 200 new homes in a Jewish housing development of east Jerusalem, pushing ahead with a recent spike of settlement construction.

The decision by Jerusalem city officials followed last week’s approval to move forward with roughly 3,000 new homes in the West Bank. A senior Cabinet minister meanwhile said that government officials are set to advance a plan that would make a group of West Bank settlements part of greater Jerusalem.

The spate of settlement activity drew condemnation from Palestinians, who said the Israeli actions threatened President Trump’s efforts to restart peace talks.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s office said the city’s planning committee had approved 176 new homes in Nof Zion, a Jewish housing development .

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the territory in a step that was not recognized internationally. Today, it considers the entire city to be its eternal capital.

The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem, home to the city’s sensitive holy sites, as the capital of their future state.

associated press