Israel moves forward plans to approve 3,000 settlement units

Illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank on 10 June 2020 [AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images]

Israel today moved forward with plans to build some 3,000 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, Haaretz’s Hebrew site reported.

The Civil Administration approved the plans to promote 3,144 housing units in illegal settlements – of which 1,344 received final approval and 1,800 units were promoted and will be submitted for final approval later.

More Israeli settlements in Palestine – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

The plans were approved – for the first time during US President Joe Biden’s tenure – although yesterday they were condemned by senior US administration officials.

According to Haaretz 292 units were approved in Kfar Etzion, 286 in Har Bracha, 224 in Talmon, 105 in Alon Shvut, 83 in Karnei Shomron, and 58 units in Beit El.

All settlements are illegal under international law.

Rights groups and the international community have repeatedly condemned Israel’s settlement expansion, saying it hinders the progress of peace with Palestinians.

Israel Hayom had reported that occupation authorities had postponed today’s meeting due to pressure from the US administration.

Joe Biden’s team had sent a written protest to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over the decision to authorise the construction of 3,000 new settlement units in the West Bank settlements.

READ: US slams Israel over West Bank settlement expansion plans

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