In the area called "Greater Jerusalem" the Israeli government has provided housing for 162 Jewish settlers in the West Bank occupied territories. Hoping to dispel widespread confusion over its policy on settlements, the Israeli government approved plans for at least 2200 new West Bank aprtments this year near Jerusalem, but it said it would slow the pace of construction. Although the Labor-led government says it wants to curtail the expansion of settlements championed by its Likud predecessors, it continues to accept new buildings in and around Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, although not nearly to the extent that the Jewish settler groups would like. Palestinians expressed anger that construction of any kind would continue in West Bank areas, that Israelis claim as "Greater Jerusalem, but that Palestinians say belong to them for their hoped for future state.