The Israeli government has announced plans to build nearly 300 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank. Israel says the construction near the Palestinian city of Ramallah would serve as compensation for settlers removed from an unauthorized outpost last year. Palestinians say all settlements are illegal and have refused to return to peace talks so long as they are expanded. Speaking Wednesday in Italy, Secretary of State John Kerry said he plans to return to the region later this month in a bid to revive negotiations.

Secretary of State John Kerry: “They have asked for ongoing meetings, and we will have those ongoing meetings, but with a purpose. We don’t want to have a meeting for the sake of a meeting. So over the course of the next weeks, we’re going to continue our work. I will be traveling back to Israel to meet with both Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as President Abbas around the 21st or 22nd of this month.”