Israel approves 98 new West Bank settler homes, industrial zone, NGO says

Israel has approved the construction of 98 settler homes in the occupied West Bank and an industrial zone near the Palestinian political capital, Ramallah, the watchdog Peace Now said on Saturday.

"While world leaders are gathering to commemorate [former Israeli prime minister] Shimon Peres and his path to peace, the Israeli government is creating another obstacle for the two-state solution by establishing a new settlement in the heart of the West Bank," Peace Now said in a statement.

Peres, 93, died on Wednesday and was buried on Friday at a Jerusalem ceremony attended by many world leaders, including President Barack Obama of the US, which has tried to broker new Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Peace Now spokeswoman Hagit Ofran told AFP that two settlement projects were approved on Wednesday by the Israeli military after being given the go-ahead by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

"The government's decision to reward settlers who stole private Palestinian lands will make the rest of Israel's law-abiding citizens pay a heavy political price," the statement said.

Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law.

They are also considered to be major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land Palestinians view as part of their future state.

Israel's Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the wildcat West Bank Jewish settlement of Amona near Shiloh must be demolished, and Peace Now said the new homes given the green light on Wednesday were designed to house the 40 or so families at present living in Amona.

"It is likely that this will be a part of the 'compensation deal' for the settlers," it said.

Peace Now said the industrial area near Ramallah "can be considered as another kind of settlement as the Israeli government will be encouraging investors to build their factories in this area".