The Israeli housing ministry has endorsed the construction of tens of new housing units in major settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank, the Hebrew radio reported on Monday.
The broadcast said that the minister invited tenders for the construction of 350 housing units in Beitar Illit settlement southwest of Bethlehem and Karnei Shomron near Nablus.
Hebrew media revealed earlier this month plans for this new wave of construction, saying that war minister Ehud Barak had authorized it following the Itamar attack, in which Palestinians were charged with killing settlers, so as to appease settlers, but kept it a secret to evade reactions.
