Israel has approved 2,166 new homes in settlements in the West Bank, for the first time since it halted its annexation plan for the occupied territory…Reports Asian Lite News
Egypt called Israel’s plans to build nearly 5,000 new settlements in the West Bank as a violation of international law.Arab News Reports
Israel’s actions “aggravate the lack of trust between relevant bodies and undermine chances of launching constructive dialogue with the Palestinian side,” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.
Israeli police are also a “serious threat” to a two-state solution, the statement added.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajjraf also deplored Israeli authorities’ earlier approval of the construction of thousands of housing units in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel has approved 2,166 new homes in settlements in the West Bank, for the first time since it halted its annexation plan for the occupied territory.
The Israeli Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Committee in the West Bank said in a statement on Wednesday that it gave final a approval for the construction of 1,313 housing units in several settlements, reports Xinhua news agency.
An additional 853 units received an initial green light but have not yet been given final approval.
The move marks the first time Israel has approved new housing units in the settlements since it signed a peace deal with the United Arab Emirates.
As part of the deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to suspend his controversial plan to annex portions of the West Bank
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