US News

Bibi blast at critics

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accusing the international community of a double standard, saying it condemns Israeli settlements in the West Bank but not Palestinians’ refusal to renew peace talks or Hamas’ call for the end of the Jewish state.

Israel was widely condemned recently when it announced that it would proceed with Jewish-settler housing in a strategic area near Jerusalem after the United Nations accepted Palestine as a nonmember observer state.

Palestinians say building there separates Jerusalem from the West Bank, hindering their statehood plans.

Peace talks between the sides collapsed four years ago.

Israel frequently calls for them to resume but Palestinians refuse to return to the table unless settlement building ends.