Israel Readies To Construct 2700 Units For Settlers In the West Bank

Monday July 05, 2010 20:25

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Settlement Councils in the occupied West Bank are preparing plans for the construction of 2,700 units for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank directly after the claimed “settlement freeze” expires at the end of this coming September.

Jewish Settlements In Occupied West Bank

The units would be built in different settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli paper, Haaretz, reported Monday that Settlement Councils finalized the plans and are seeking approval from the Israeli Housing Ministry, and Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, to ensure the approval before the settlement freeze ends.

Haaretz added some projects were received from Barak and the Housing Ministry before Israel announced the 9-month settlement freeze, but the Settlements Council in the West Bank prepared new plans after the freeze was declared and are now lobbying to implement them directly after the freeze ends.

It is worth mentioning that American President, Barack Obama, is trying to convince Israel to extend the settlement freeze under the condition that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank agrees to hold direct talks with Israel.

The issue would be presented to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during his meeting on Tuesday with Obama.

Should Netanyahu agree to extending the freeze, the United States would talk Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas into accepting to start direct talks with Israel.

Settlement construction and expansion is one of the main obstacles to the peace process while Israel also refuses to hold talks on fundamental issues such as borders, the right of return of the Palestinian refugees, and natural resources.