USA: 'Massive increase' in settlements behind Palestinian frustration - Kerry

Speaking at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry attributed the recent uptick in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to "frustration" over the non-implementation of earlier US-negotiated peace accords. In particular, Kerry highlighted the "massive increase over the course of the last years" in the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a practice illegal under international law, as a source of growing Palestinian frustration. The US politician also announced that he is set to travel to the Middle East in the near future to engage with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in re-starting the fragile peace process. At least 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers since 1 October when the most recent violence escalated, and more than 1,700 injured, according to Palestinian medical sources. Seven Israelis have been killed during the same period.