Leaders of the left-wing Meretz party lashed out at the government Thursday for authorizing construction of 20 new houses at the community of Maskiot in the Jordan Valley. They charged that it breaks the American policy against Israel's new building in Judea and Samaria, which includes the Jordan Valley.
The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria rejected the charges, pointing out that Maskiot previously has been approved by the government.