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Israel is set to move forward with thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank this week, a watchdog group said today.
The plan to construct almost 3,000 new residences in the West Bank has already drawn calls for restraint from the US, which on Friday voiced 'concern' over the expected approvals.
Hagit Ofran, from the anti-settlement group Peace Now, said a committee is set to meet on Wednesday to approve 2,800 units deep in the West Bank.
It would further complicate any efforts to create a Palestinian state and represents the latest development in a long, protracted conflict in the region.
Despite much of the international community viewing such settlements as illegal, more than half of the residences are receiving final approval, meaning construction could begin as early as next year.
The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967, but the land is strongly contested by the Palestinians who believe they have a historical right to the region.
This file photo taken on October 5, 2021, shows a view of construction work in the Jewish settlement of Givat Zeev, near the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank
The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967, but the land is strongly contested and remains the source of a long,
