More illegal settlements approved as Israel ignores Palestinian rights and international opinion

From the Egyptian Gazette

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - Israel is to issue tenders for 336 new homes in two West Bank settlements, a spokesman for the Israeli ministry of construction and housing told AFP on Monday.

"We will very shortly issue tenders for the construction of 336 houses for Jews in Judea and Samaria" Ariel Rosenberg said, using the biblical term for the West Bank.

"In total, 294 homes are planned for Beitar-Illit, and 42 others in Karnei Shomron," said Rosenberg. Beitar Illit is south of Jerusalem, while Karnei Shomron lies 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Rosenberg did not specify when the tenders would be issued.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had approved the construction of the 294 Beitar Ilit homes in May, but the project was subject to various stages of review and additional approvals before tenders could be issued. more

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