The Israeli government has boosted plans for settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, which are illegal under international law, since US President Donald Trump, whose administration does not oppose the settlement activity, took office last week. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told the French news agency AFP that the approvals Thursday were among those held up due to U.S. pressure under the Obama administration,

The White House has not condemned any of the announcements, but Sean Spicer, the White House spokesman, said Tuesday at the daily briefing for reporters that President Donald Trump would discuss the recent settlement expansion plans when he meets next month with Netanyahu. “I’m going to deliver permits for thousands of homes in Jerusalem in the coming months,” Turgeman said. Another 11,000 buildings are expected to receive building permits, according to Jerusalem's deputy mayor.The permits by a city planning committee had been put on hold due to pressure from Barack Obama's administration, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman said, according to The Times of Israel.Earlier Sunday, the committee authorized the construction of 556 settler homes in east Jerusalem followed by 2,500 homes in the West Bank approved on Tuesday.The plans were approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The permissions Thursday for the Gilo neighborhood follow days after construction was approved for 566 housing units in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ramot, Ramat Shlomo and Pisgat Zeev, and two days after Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for 2,500 housing units in the West Bank. “The Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun setting up obstacles in front of the administration of the new US President Donald Trump to counter peace efforts between the two sides,” the ministry said in a statement. The settlement expansion plans, which are major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state, have deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli authorities approve 153 construction permits for settlement homes in East Jerusalem, and plan to approve another 11,000 in the coming months.