Israel official: Settlement funding up before elections

An Israeli official said Tuesday the government is pumping millions of dollars into Jewish settlements in the West Bank for public buildings and roads ahead of national elections.

The official said that the spending spree is using money that had been held up by former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who was fired early this month in a move that helped trigger the early election. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Lapid this week asked Israel's attorney general to stop the transfer of funds, saying the move was politically motivated ahead of the March election.