MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Israel's Ministry of Housing (MOH) is preparing plans to resume the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israeli watchdog Peace Now said Monday.
"The Ministry of Housing is preparing new plans for 55,548 new residential units in settlements. 11,543 of them at the area of Maale Adumim and E1; 25,282 east of the [Israeli West Bank] Barrier; and 18,723 units west of the Barrier," a report published by Peace Now said.
Construction in the E1 area has been frozen since 2009 due to international pressure. In 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vetoed three MOH construction projects involving E1. Renewed construction plans include building 8,372 housing units in the area, the report said.
Over 500,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to United Nations figures. The settlements are considered illegal by the UN, and West Bank territory is considered occupied territory by the International Court of Justice. The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
