Israel has issued a bid to build nearly 1,000 additional settlers’ homes on the occupied West Bank, an Israeli NGO reports.
Referring to the document, the Peace current watchdog said on Sunday that development of 974 new housing units is being planned in the EFRAT settlement (AL-QUDS) near Jerusalem.
The West Bank settlement, pushed out by Israeli hardliners and supported by Israeli Cabinet, is considered a major obstacle to many peace, both Palestinians and internationally.
The project will expand the population of the EFRAT settlement, located about 12 km (7.5 miles) southwest of AlQuds by about 40%, further blocking the development of the nearby Palestinian city of Bethlehem, Peace said.
Hagit Ofran, who heads the group’s settlement monitoring, said construction could begin after the contract process and the issuance of permits, which could take at least a year.
Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israel War. Villages are illegal under international law.