Israeli authorities, on Monday, approved the construction of over 200 new units in the ultra-orthodox Kochav Yaakov settlement, near Jerusalem, PNN reports.
The move comes a week before US President Trump, who has previously criticized Israeli settlements in the territories, visits the region.
According to Haaretz daily newspaper, the construction plans were approved in the 1980s, says regional council chairman Avi Roeh, who now heads the politically-influential, settler Yesha Council. Roeh says this is simply an old, legitimate plan that got derailed due to a developer’s bankruptcy status.
“It’s a project with an approved urban plan of 1,200 units, of which 750 have been built,” he said.
