![Image of labourers building units of homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem [Sliman Khader/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017_2_9-Labourers-work-on-building-jewish-settlement-SL00-9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Israeli government has announced plans to build 805 new settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem, an Israeli website has reported, according to Anadolu Agency.
Israel’s Housing Ministry on Thursday announced tenders for the construction of the new housing units in the Jewish-only Ramot and Pisgat Ze’ev settlements, according to the pro-settler Arutz Sheva7 website.
The announcement reportedly coincided with a meeting in Jerusalem between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s top advisor, who arrived in Israel Wednesday as part of a wider tour of the region.
Kushner’s tour is intended to promote the so-called “Deal of the Century”, a backchannel US Middle East peace plan details of which have yet to be made public.