Israeli inspectors trying to enforce a government moratorium on new building starts in Jewish settlements ran into defiance on Tuesday.
Amnesty said in a report on Tuesday that Israeli restrictions prevent Palestinians from receiving enough water in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Mahmoud Abbas faced a wave of anger on Wednesday from Palestinians who accuse him of selling out the national cause in favour of Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel would not freeze all building in West Bank settlements as demanded by Washington, but could limit its scope.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved permits on Monday to build 455 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinians said on Wednesday that reports of an Israeli freeze in construction in West Bank settlements was a ”new deceiving Israeli manoeuvre”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refrained from initiating new housing projects in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a minister said.
The first congress in 20 years of Fatah that would seal a future peace pact with Israel was in danger on Friday of fizzling out in discord.
Fatah members were preparing on Friday to elect a new leadership for the first time in 20 years, hoping to breathe new life into the party.
The second day of Fatah’s first congress in 20 years was marked by acrimonious rows on Wednesday as delegates demanded accountability.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected on Wednesday any notion he would order Israel’s barrier in the West Bank to be torn down.
