Netanyahu asks planning committee to approve 660 settlement units

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sanctioned the so-called Regional Planning Commission to convene on Monday to approve 660 new illegal settlement units in occupied Jerusalem, Arabs48 news website reported on Sunday.

Last week, Netanyahu announced his authorisation to build 660 new settlement units in Ramat Shlomo and 400 other units in Har Homa. Both are illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem.

The international community has strongly denounced the building of new settlements, with even Israel’s closest ally, the US, calling the move a provocation.

In addition to the additional settlement units in occupied Jerusalem, Israeli media revealed last week that Netanyahu had also reached an agreement with Israel’s Economic Minister Naftali Bennett that included the approval of new settlement projects in the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media, the projects include 2,000 new settlement units, 12 new roads, parks, student villages and renovation works in Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron.