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Photo: Settlement (MaanImages/file)

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel is planning to move ahead with another 3,360 new settler homes in the West Bank, Haaretz newspaper reported on Thursday, quoting an MP from the ruling right-wing Likud party.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu's government will begin advancing a series of construction plans in east Jerusalem and the West Bank to the tune of some 5,000 new housing units, in an effort to 'offset' the release of Palestinian prisoners earlier this week," the paper said.

The figure includes the construction of 1,500 new homes in East Jerusalem which was announced early on Wednesday immediately after Israel freed 26 long-serving prisoners in line with its commitments to US-backed peace talks.

But the report also detailed plans for another 3,360 homes which are to be pushed through various stages of the planning process.

Some are to be built in large settlement blocs Israel hopes to retain in any final peace deal, while others are slated for construction in isolated settlements deep in the occupied West Bank.

The information was revealed by Ofir Akunis, an MP from Netanyahu's ruling Likud, the paper said.

Akunis could not immediately be reached to confirm the details.

The report said the government would market land "for the immediate construction of 860 housing units in settlements in the major blocs" naming Ariel, Maaleh Adumim, Givat Zeev, Beitar Ilit, Kareni Shomron and Elkana.

Plans for another 1,400 new homes in both the blocs and in isolated settlements will also be submitted to the planning division of the Civil Administration, which is responsible for West Bank construction permits.

And plans for another 1,100 units, which have already advanced some way through the lengthy planning process, will also be pushed forward, the paper said, adding some were tabled for isolated settlements like Shiloh and Nokdim.

Contacted by AFP, a senior government official appeared to confirm the report, although he did not cite specific numbers.

"Only the 1,500 new housing units will be built," he said, referring to Wednesday's announcement about construction in the east Jerusalem settlement neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.

"All the rest of the numbers that were published in the last day are only relating to the planning process and not to actual construction."

PLO, EU condemn settlement plans

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday condemned Israel's decision to build 1,500 settler homes in East Jerusalem, calling on Israel to "end all settlement activity, including natural growth."

PLO official Hanan Ashrawi also condemned the move, saying settlement expansion is "willfully and flagrantly violating international law and the requirements for peace."

"The Israeli occupation is exposing its true intentions of creating ‘greater Israel’ rather than a two-state solution. The Israeli government has proven once again that it is not a partner for peace nor a member of the international community that respects the global rule of law."

Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said that the PA is considering going to international courts to file complaints against new Israeli settlements.

British Minister Hugh Robertson said in a statement that the UK regrets the recent decision to expand settlements, adding that "the UK has consistently condemned settlements, which are illegal under international law, undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two-state solution."

Israel is currently engaged in direct peace talks with the PLO for the first time in three years, following intense pressure from Washington.

The previous round of negotiations collapsed in September 2010 in a bitter dispute over Israel's ongoing construction on land seized and occupied in the 1967 Six Day War.

Ma'an staff contributed to this report.
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Oct 30, 2013

RAMALLAH (AFP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Interior Minister Gideon Saar agreed to build 1,500 new homes in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo early Wednesday, army radio said, hours after 26 Palestinian prisoners were released from jail.

Last week, an Israeli official said new tenders were to be announced in the large settlement blocs and in East Jerusalem "in the coming months" as part of "understandings" reached with both the Palestinians and Washington.

Speaking before the army radio's report, Abbas reiterated the Palestinians' denial that the prisoner release was part of an agreement to allow Israel more settlement building.

"There are some living among us who say that we have a deal (to release prisoners) in exchange for settlement building, and I say to them, be silent."

The release of the 26 prisoners was part of a four-stage deal to coincide with the PLO's return to peace negotiations in July.

A first group of 26 prisoners was freed on August 13.

Israel announced plans for more than 2,000 new settler homes in tandem with the August prisoner release, causing outrage among PLO officials.

The spokesman for European Union foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton warned at the time that Israeli approvals for settlements in the West Bank threatened to render peace talks with Palestinians "impossible".

The last round of direct peace talks broke down just weeks after they were launched in September 2010 in a bitter row over settlements.

There are still 5,007 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, including 137 administrative detainees, 12 women and 180 children, according to prisoners support group Addameer.

Ma'an staff contributed to this report