Israel approves hundreds of new housing units in West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Wednesday hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements, amidst fierce response by far-right lawmakers and activists to the demolition of two illegal buildings in the Beit El settlement.

"During a consultation in the Prime Minister's Office, the immediate construction of 300 housing units in Beit El was authorized," said a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.

In addition, the marketing of 91 housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev, a Jewish settlement neighborhood of Jerusalem, was also approved.

The statement also announced plans for additional 24 housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev, 70 housing units in Gilo and 19 housing units in Har Homa, all are settlement neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

The announcement came only minutes before the demolition of the so-called Dreinoff Buildings has begun, in the wake of a Supreme Court order to demolish the 24-appartement buildings because they were built on private Palestinian land.

The buildings were being razed amidst violent confrontations between hundreds of settlers and Israeli security forces.

The move triggered angry response by far-right hardliners, including by ministers with Netanyahu's cabinet ministers and lawmaker with his own Likud faction.

On Tuesday, cabinet ministers with the pro-settler Jewish Home faction denounced Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, threatening to break Netanyahu's narrow coalition.

Bezalel Smotrich, lawmaker with the Jewish Home, told on Tuesday to the settlers' radio Channel Seven that "this very grave move" has caused "a crisis of confidence within the coalition."

Also Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel of the Jewish Home threatened that the incident "won't go without response." Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and has controlled it ever since.

The settlements are built on lands the Palestinians see as their future state, and are considered illegal under international law. Endit