Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman have approved 2,500 new housing units throughout Yehuda and Shomron. They announced “getting back to normal” following the Obama administration. The two senior ministers made the announcement this week during a meeting of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, adding restrictions will be lifted to permit a resumption of construction in Yerushalayim as well.

The new plan spells a major increase for the Shomron city of Ariel, where the government plans to construct 839 units. An additional 385 units are slated for communities within the Shomron Regional Council. Maale Adumim will receive 112 new housing units, Givat Ze’ev 652, 87 in Betar, 21 in Efrat and 4 in Gush Etzion communities. In the Binyamin Regional Council of Shomron, Beit El will receive 100, which are intended for the residents of Migron who were evicted by High Court of Justice decision in 2012. They were previously located in the same regional council near Psagot.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump would discuss the matter with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he meets with the president in Washington next month.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)