Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli authorities approved on Wednesday a major expansion of a Jewish colony in the heart of Palestinian East Jerusalem, issuing building permits for 176 new housing units.
The construction, which a municipal spokeswoman in occupied Jerusalem said was “approved” by the city’s planning committee, was swiftly condemned by the Palestinians as a violation of international law.
Construction of the new units will nearly triple the number of colonist homes in the illegal colony of Neve Zion, which currently has 91 dwellings and is surrounded by Palestinian houses in the Jabel Al Mukaber neighbourhood.
Most countries regard colonies Israel has built on occupied land as illegal, and obstacles to any future land-for-peace deal.
Wasel Abu Yousuf, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, called the construction plans in Jabel Al Mukaber “a challenge to all the calls by the international community” to halt colony building.
Last week, Israel announced approval for the construction of several hundred additional homes for colonists in the West Bank, drawing condemnation from Palestinians and the European Union.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have not been held since 2014, with colony building one of the issues that led to their collapse.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and Occupied East Jerusalem, areas that are home to more than 2.6 million Palestinians.