The Israeli cabinet decided on Wednesday evening to build 84 more homes in a number of illegal West Bank settlements. The decision came while Israel vowed a 10-month freeze of settlement activities.Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, coordinator of government activities in the occupied territories, stated that the constructions will go ahead as the decision was made before Israel declared the temporary settlement freeze.
The Israeli government intends to build 492 more housing units for the settlers. This construction is not part of the 2500 units Israel already started to build.
The office of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated on Wednesday at night that Netanyahu did not adhere to U.S pressures regarding settlement activities, and that he intends to reach an understanding with heads of local councils of settlements in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, Dangot already instructed the head of the so-called Civil Administration office in the occupied West Bank to provide the Settlements Council with a list of settlements not included in the temporary settlement freeze.
Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, called for a meeting with heads of settlement councils, but only a few accepted the invitation.
Earlier on Wednesday, a group of fundamental settlers of Elon Moreh, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, engaged in a violent confrontation with inspectors of the Israeli Civil Administration.
The settlers held a protest and said that they will not adhere to the –months freeze declared by Netanyahu.
