![Pisgat Ze'ev and Ramat Shlomo settlements in east and south Jerusalem, December 2016 [Daniel Bar On/Anadolu]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161229_2_21013803_17510551.jpg?fit=1162%2C800&ssl=1)
The Israeli Ministry of Housing and the Jerusalem municipality have approved the construction of 10,000 new housing units in the area of Qalandia, also known as Atarot industrial area, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel’s Channel 10 reported that the plan was supposed to be approved years ago but was frozen due to the former US administration’s opposition.
Earlier this month the Israeli Planning and Building Committee approved the construction of 212 new housing units in the Pisgat Ze’ev and Ramat Shlomo settlements east and south of Jerusalem.
Read: Israel approves construction of 212 new settlement units in Jerusalem
The US has recently described Israel’s continued settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as “not helpful to the peace process”.