Israel has approved the construction of 900 new illegal settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), despite mounting international criticism of its expansionist policies.
An Israeli activist group known as Peace Now said on Thursday that the city’s district planning committee has given the go-ahead for the new housing units to be built in Ramat Shlomo settlement.
« They’ve approved the request, and now they’re allowed to build, » media outlets quoted Peace Now spokeswoman, Hagit Ofran, as saying, who also added, « The plan (for 900 units) has been approved even though they don’t have the roads. »
The Israeli Interior Ministry had already announced a plan to build hundreds of settler homes in the same ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in East al-Quds. However, construction was delayed because the planning committee said new roads need to be built first.
The latest approval comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has finally managed to form his ruling coalition before a deadline for the formation of new government. He has announced a deal with the Jewish Home (Bayit Yehudi), a Zionist pro-settlement party.
International criticism is growing against Israel’s settlement activities. The international community regards all Israeli settlements built on the occupied Palestinian land as illegal.