The Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration today (Wednesday) approved the construction of 3,144 housing units at various planning stages in Judea and Samaria.
This is after it has not convened since January this year, when only about 800 housing units were approved, and against the background of the intensified American protest.
At the same time, next Sunday, the IAEA is expected to convene for approval of more than 1,000 Palestinian units in Area C. The Biden administration responded: "The process of laundering outposts is unacceptable."
Among other things, about 1,344 housing units were approved for deposit (initial stage of the planning process; AP), including in Revava, Kedumim, Alon Moreh, Sansana, Vered Jericho and Givat Zeev.
In addition, approximately 1,800 housing units were approved for validity (last stage before going out to tender and marketing; AP), including in Kfar Etzion, Har Bracha, Beit El, Ma'ale Mikhmas, Talmon, and Ali.
Minister Michael Bitton on the planning processes in Judea and Samaria // Photo: Knesset Channel
The Beit El local council welcomed the approval of 58 housing units at a meeting of the Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration held today.
This approval joins the 350 housing units that were announced for marketing at the beginning of the week and an additional 300 housing units, the construction of which will be completed in the coming months.
Council Chairman Shai Alon said: "With the publication of the plan, we are moving towards the realization of the '1,000 plan' to which we have committed - the construction of 1,000 housing units and the doubling of Beit El.
In this way, with the help of the name, we will become the capital of Benjamin in practice. "
Peace Now now condemned the decision: "A government that violates the status quo commitment and promotes harmful construction in the settlements is not a change government but a full right-wing government. There is a promiscuous leadership here that chooses to ignore our friend the United States to please the settler minority. "While all the tools are being broken and the right is celebrating another step that promotes a bi-national state, supporters of the two countries in government are falling asleep on guard.
As you may recall, the US State Department yesterday condemned Israel's intention to approve the construction of thousands of housing units in Judea and Samaria.
The State Department said in a statement that "the US administration is very concerned about Israel's intention to promote the construction of thousands of housing units in Judea and Samaria."
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States "strongly opposes" the move and that "this goes against efforts to reduce tensions." That he "compares Israel to the Palestinian Authority, while there is no room for such a comparison," he said.