AhlulBayt News Agency - An Israeli weekly newspaper revealed that Israeli government is advancing construction plans to build about 1,000 housing units in four illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem despite the stiff international criticism.
Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper said that Israeli settlement construction is continuing within the existing settlements in occupied Jerusalem under the supervision of the Israeli government.
The 1,000 housing units are scheduled to be built in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev, Maale Adumim, and Modi'in settlements.
Har Homa settlement, which was established in 1977, houses nearly 30,000 settlers. Israeli authorities work at expanding the settlement to house 40,000 settlers.
Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as their future capital, and other Palestinian territories is illegal under international law. Israel’s refusal to cease settlement-building activities has been widely condemned as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The housing announcement would greatly escalate tensions in occupied Jerusalem, which has been the scene of violent unrest for months.
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