Local Editor

"Israel" on Wednesday pushed forward with plans to build more than 550 new units in Occupied East al-Quds, the city council said.

In a statement listing "building permits that were approved" during a planning committee session, it said permits were granted to private contractors to build 386 units in Har Homa, 136 units in Neve Yaakov and 36 units in Pisgat Zeev.

Issuing construction permits is one of the last stages before construction begins, with building likely to start in the coming weeks, "Israel's" so-called "Peace Now" settlement watchdog said.

"Israel" and the Palestinian Authority began a round of direct talks at the end of July with the aim of reaching an agreement within nine months.

But the US-led negotiations have been overshadowed by "Israel's" refusal to rein in settlement plans on occupied Palestinian land.
"Israel" occupied East al-Quds during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.
Some 350,000 settlers live in West Bank settlements, in addition to another 200,000 "Israelis" settled in occupied East al-Quds.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team