Israeli Authority Approves Construction Of 5,700 New Houses In The West Bank, US: Exacerbating Tensions

The construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (Wikimedia Commons/Ralf Roletschek)

JAKARTA - Israel has again taken controversial steps by issuing thousands of housing construction permits in the West Bank, a move that has drawn criticism from the United States.

The Israel Government's Highest Planning Council approved the construction of about 5,700 more homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank on Monday.

Despite pressure from the United States to stop the expansion of settlements, which Washington sees as a barrier to peace with Palestine, final approval is given to 818 units, while others are still in various stages of the process.

The move received praise from Jewish settlers.

"I thank the Israeli government for the continuation of the construction of Israeli settlements," said Shlomo Ne'man, head of the West Bank Gush Etzion Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council.

"Especially in these difficult days, this is the most appropriate Zionist answer for all those who are trying to destroy us," he continued.

The majority of countries in the world consider the settlements built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 war illegal. The existence of these settlements is one of the fundamental things of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Separately, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel's decision was very disturbing.

Miller said US officials had made clear, both open and closed to Israel, that they were opposing the move to advance settlements.

"The expansion of settlements undermines the geographical continuity of the two-state solution, exacerbates tensions and further undermines trust between the two sides," said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

It is known that since taking office in January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition has approved the construction of more than 7,000 new housing units, most of which are in the West Bank.

"The Israeli government is pushing us at an unprecedented pace, towards full annexation of the West Bank," said Israel's settlement supervisory agency Peace Now.