Israel approves 200 settlement units in occupied Jerusalem

The local Israeli committee for planning and construction in the Palestinian city of Jerusalem is set to approve on Wednesday the building of 200 new housing units in the illegal settlement of Ramot.

Citing Israeli media, Palestinian news agency Quds Net reported that it is expected for the plan to be handed over to the regional committee for final approval in order to be ready for bidding.

Last week, the same committee approved, with the prime minister’s authorisation, the building of 500 new units in the illegal Ramat Shlomo settlement in the north of occupied Jerusalem.

The latest wave of Israeli settlements has provoked the anger of the international community, but so far Israel has ignored the criticism and continued to violate international law.

Israel’s latest announcement comes during an exceptional period of heightened tensions with Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, with extremist settlers protected by occupation police forces desecrating Al-Aqsa Mosque almost daily, while many Palestinians are denied entry.