Israel approves 900 new homes in West Bank settlements

Israel is to approve the building of almost 900 new homes in West Bank Jewish settlements today, ending what settler leaders termed a de facto building freeze over the last year.

The decision by defence minister Moshe Ya’alon to give the green light to the construction follows a campaign by the settler lobby, which accused prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government of caving in to international pressure and putting settlement construction on hold.

Two members of Mr Netanyahu’s wafer-slim coalition threatened to vote against the budget unless immediate approval was given for new West Bank building.

Boost for settlers

The programme includes hundreds of homes in isolated settlements, and 381 homes in Givat Zeev and 300 units in Beit El, both close to Jerusalem.

In another boost for the settlers, justice minister Ayelet Shaked has established a committee to examine retroactively granting legality to scores of illegal outposts set up by settlers on West Bank hilltops without government approval.

Ms Shaked, from the far- right Jewish Home, said it was time to clear the judicial uncertainty surrounding the outposts. “It’s time to clear the legal fog and let residents who live in Judea and Samaria [the biblical term for the West Bank] stop worrying about a constant threat to the ownership of their homes.”

The latest developments came after the EU agreed this week to push ahead with labelling Israeli goods made in settlements and is considering tougher steps, including targeting Israeli banks.

The European Council on Foreign Relations, whose proposals frequently inform EU policymaking, argues in a report the EU is in breach of its own laws and must move much more firmly to distinguish its dealings with Israel from Israel's activities in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Frustration

In a reflection of the growing European frustration over Israeli settlement policy, the report proposes targeting the banking sector, as all Israeli banks provide loans or mortgages for businesses and individuals in the settlements.

The report also asks whether Europe should accept qualifications from academic, medical and other Israeli institutions based in the West Bank, and whether the EU should deal with Israeli institutions – such as the justice ministry and the national police headquarters – which are based in east Jerusalem.

Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely dismissed the report as a non-binding document lacking real influence.

“This report is not connected to any operative decision. Israel is conducting a very serious and significant ongoing dialogue with the EU aimed at preventing boycotts of Israel.”

The Israeli government has described Europe’s steps on labelling as discriminatory, arguing that it encourages the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.