ICBS said
that over Jewish occupiers completed the construction of over 114 housing units
they started building during the 10-month settlement freeze. It added that the
occupiers also completed the construction of over than 1,175 housing units
which were started before the temporary moratorium.
According
to ICBS data, the construction of over 427 housing units has been going on
since October 2010.
The
Israeli body said that its data is based on partial information, and that there
has also been a dramatic rise in unauthorized construction in West Bank
settlement outposts that has not been officially documented.
It added
that the data does not include mobile homes and tents that are often placed in
unauthorized outposts to settle the Palestinian land.
The
development came as the occupiers are slated to launch a large-scale campaign
against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for the resumption of
construction in the West Bank and settlement blocks.
Israeli
sources said that the campaign will be launched under the banner “Build, Bibi
(Netanyahu’s nickname), build!” The campaign will see various Israeli
newspapers quoting ministers of ruling Likud party and MKs calling for the
resumption of construction in the West Bank and settlement blocks as well as
ads in billboards.
The
Council of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories (Yesha) said that the
campaign is aimed at showing Netanyahu he has no backing for the effective
renewal of the moratorium.
Yesha
said that what motivated the occupiers to launch the new campaign were concerns
over a “bold political move” sparked by reports of a new peace plan Netanyahu
is slated to unveil in the near future.
Netanyahu’s
Office said last week that the PM was considering a plan to cooperate with the
Palestinians on the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary
borders, as part of an interim peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority
that would be implemented immediately.
On
Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the purported
initiative, saying he would not accept an Israeli peace initiative if it called
for temporary borders for a future Palestinian state.
Meanwhile,
Abbas headed for Britain Sunday for an official visit to discuss the future of
peace talks with Israel.
Yasser
Abed Rabbo, Secretary General of Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive
Committee, said that Abbas will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and
senior officials. Then he will embark on a visit to Denmark, Abed Rabbo told
Voice of Palestine Radio.
In
Britain, Abbas will see if Europe can engage itself more in the efforts to
revive the Middle East peace negotiations, Abed Rabbo said. Abbas’ visit to
Europe comes ahead of a meeting of the Quartet of peace mediators, which is
scheduled in the middle of March in Paris. The Quartet comprises the United
States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations.
The US
administration has been the sponsor of the negotiations, but the Palestinian
leadership lost confidence in Washington after it vetoed an Arab draft
resolution against the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem last month.
