The harsh domestic criticism appears to reflect concern that the timing of last week’s Israeli announcement about the construction plans could undercut U.S. support for Israel at a critical juncture. At a cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu urged ministers “that we not get carried away and that we calm down.” But he also acknowledged that the announcement had been “regrettable” and “hurtful” and “certainly should not have occurred.”

The opposition leader, Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party, said Netanyahu “is leading us to a diplomatic collapse.”

The announcement of the construction plan came during last week’s visit to Israel by Vice President Biden, and it prompted a vocal and repeated U.S. condemnation. The planned construction includes 1,600 housing units for an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, one that is in territory Israel annexed and made part of Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war in a move rejected by the international community.

David Axelrod, President Obama’s chief political adviser, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the Israeli action was an “affront” and an “insult.”

– Janine Zacharia

Bomb attacks in Afghanistan: Fatal bomb attacks in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar were a warning to NATO that the Taliban is ready for a coming offensive in its heartland, the group said Sunday. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said the bombings show that the insurgents are still able to operate despite the buildup of Afghan and international troops in the south.

Yemen strikes at suspected al-Qaeda site: Yemen’s air force struck a suspected al-Qaeda position in Abyan province, a government-linked Web site reported, and residents said up to 20 people may have been killed.

Pakistan bombs Taliban hideouts: Pakistani fighter jets pounded Taliban hideouts near the Afghan border, killing 17 insurgents, local officials said. The hideouts were in the village of Mero Bak in the Taliban stronghold of the Lower Orakzai tribal region, said Rasheed Khan, an Orakzai official.

Left leads in French election: France’s Socialist-led left has a strong lead against Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservatives in the first round of regional elections Sunday, according to partial official results. With 72 percent of votes counted, candidates from the Socialist and other leftist parties won more than 53 percent of the overall vote, according to the Interior Ministry.

Invasion hoax in Georgia: Georgians were panicked by a hoax television news program announcing that the Russian army had invaded. The private television station Imedi — Georgia’s No. 3 channel — later ran a ticker saying the report “did not correspond with reality.” There was no explanation.

– From news services