Israeli government has given approval to build 112 new apartments in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Israeli ministers said the building would be allowed to go ahead because of what they termed called safety issues. The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank had demanded a complete stop to settlement building as a precondition to re-engaging in talks which broke down more than a year ago. Yesterday, the Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank agreed to indirect talks with Israel. Israel had promised a 10-month pause in settlement building in the West Bank, not including East Jerusalem. Palestinian negotiators say the Israeli announcement will place strain on the already fragile agreement to talk.