Netanyahu Orders Authorities to Construct 800 Homes in Settlements

This noon, Israel's Prime Minister directed authorities to approve construction of 800 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The move comes days before US President Donald Trump's strongly pro-Israel administration departs office. It also comes as internal political pisions intensifies following the collapse of a fractious coalition between right-wing premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his centrist Defence Minister Benny Gantz.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that plans be advanced for the construction of about 800 units in Judea and Samaria," a statement from his office said, using biblical terms for the West Bank.

In Washington, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden indicated that his administration will restore Washington's pre-Trump policy of opposing settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian Territories.

According to AFP, the settlement announcement came a day after Gantz opposed plans to legalise under Israeli law a series of settlement outposts, which, given his control of the defence portfolio, in effect takes this proposal -- one that has strong appeal for right-wing voters -- off the table.

Settler leaders meanwhile accused Gantz of intending to push ahead with retrospectively legalising under Israeli law Palestinian construction in Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank.