Israel approves settler homes, ignores US

Israel has given final approval for thousands of new settler homes in the occupied West Bank despite criticism from the United States.

A spokesperson for the responsible authority confirmed on Wednesday that 3130 housing units have been approved for construction.

On Sunday, the approval of about 1000 housing units for Palestinians in the West Bank will be discussed.

The US State Department has criticised Israel's plans for Jewish settlement expansion.

"We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements, which is completely inconsistent with efforts to lower tensions and ensure calm," spokesman Ned Price said.

"And it damages the prospects for a two-state solution."

A spokesperson for Ze'ev Elkin, the Israeli minister of construction and housing, said on Sunday that calls for bids for marketing 1300 units were published.

That includes 729 units in the settler community of Ariel and 346 in Beit El.

Israel took control of both the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War of 1967.

About 600,000 Israelis live in more than 200 communities in the West Bank, even though the UN Security Council said in 2016 that their presence was a violation of international law.

It called on Israel to stop all further construction activity.

The government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was installed in June.

Bennett has said he has no plans of slowing down the construction.