By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Housing and Construction Ministry on Friday issued bids for building 100 new residential units in the West Bank settlements of Elkana and Ariel, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The new bids, of which 52 units will be erected in Elkana and 48 in Ariel, were advertised by Israeli Housing and Construction Ministry and the Civil Administration supervisor in the West Bank.
Once the bids become available on June 11 this year, Israeli Housing and Construction Ministry will supervise tours to the area by those interested in building the units.
The Peace Now movement, a left-wing non-governmental organization in Israel, slammed in response that “the government is destroying the chance to reach a settlement with the Palestinians, and turning the Annapolis peace summit into an irrelevant joke.”
“The bids are a deadly blow to the political peace process. In order to appease the settlers, the government is allowing the construction of thousands of homes in the Palestinian territories, and torpedoing any chance of reaching a peace agreement.” Peace Now director Yariv Oppenheimer was quoted as saying. The advertisement on Friday came just days after settlers and defense officials said new construction in the West Bank would be announced soon.
According to statistics of Israeli government, Israel has approved the construction of almost 1,700 homes in disputed territory since renewing peace talks with the Palestinians at the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference last November. Israel’s plan to build new apartments in disputed territory has drawn harsh criticism from the Palestinian side and the international community, including Israel’s ally, the United States.
The U.S. side said such construction is unconducive to peace efforts, and the Palestinian side has accused Israel of sabotaging the peace talks.