In a first such move by the Netanyahu cabinet, the Israeli government has authourised nine Jewish settlements in the West Bank which were previously unauthourised outposts. Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office has called a decision a response to recent attacks in East Jerusalem. The move has drawn condemnation from the Palestinian Authority which called it an ‘open war’ against its people. Netanyahu’s office said more housing units are likely to be built in separate, existing illegal settlements. The decision comes amid escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence, with at least 46 Palestinians killed so far this year.