Israel advances plans for 1,213 new settlement homes

Israel has announced plans to press ahead with the construction of 1,213 homes on annexed West Bank land, defying international opposition to its settlement policies.

The Israel Land Administration on Monday published notices inviting bids from contractors to build on plots in Ramot and Pisgat Zeev, urban settlements that Israel has declared part of Jerusalem.

The plans call for the building of 607 new homes in Pisgat Zeev and 606 in Ramot. Tens of thousands of Israelis already live in the two areas.

The Israeli NGO Peace Now said on Tuesday that an additional tender for the construction of 72 homes in the West Bank settlement of Ariel was reissued on Monday after a previous notice failed to attract winning bidders.

"This is the true answer of Netanyahu to Abbas. Chairman Abbas declared again his strong commitment to the two states solution, and Netanyahu replied with thousands of new units in settlements," the group said in a statement.

"It seems that Netanyahu is afraid of the new administration that is being elected today in the US, and he has chosen the day of election to publish the tenders so that there will be the least public attention to his action."

Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of Fatah's central committee, slammed the announcement.

"For those who still wonder if there is an Israeli partner for peace, the answer has been given," Shtayyeh said in a statement.

"This is all Netanyahu and Lieberman have to offer: The destruction of the two-state solution and the imposition of an Apartheid regime."

The Israeli decision to expand settlements in the occupied territories is another reason why the Palestinians must pursue a UN bid, he added.

On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister had warned President Abbas against making any unilateral moves which could "push peace back," referring to the upcoming UN bid.

Israeli settlements are one of the major obstacles to a viable two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and are widely condemned by the international community.

Around 500,000 settlers live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.