Israel has approved the construction of 1,936 new settler homes on occupied Palestinian territories, watchdog Peace Now said Monday. The green light was given on Sunday and Monday, Peace Now said, adding that 89 percent of the new homes will be erected in "settlements that Israel may have to evacuate under a future peace agreement with the Palestinians".
The watchdog says settlement building has vastly increased under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ally US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu has been fighting for his political survival faced with corruption charges and after failing to form a new coalition government following April and September elections.
The premier, who was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, is now facing a third general election in March. "Despite lacking a clear mandate, for this caretaker government it's business as usual - continue the massive promotion of harmful and unnecessary construction in occupied territory and in places that Israel will have to evacuate," said Peace Now in a statement.
"Netanyahu continues to sabotage the prospects of peace, dragging Israel into an anti-democratic one-state reality resembling apartheid." According to Peace Now, 1,150 of the units were approved for "deposit" or phase one of the planning process.
A total of 786 units received final endorsement, including 258 that are to be built in Haresha, an "illegal outpost" west of the city of Ramallah on the West Bank, the watchdog said. Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 in a move never recognised by the international community.
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