The Israeli Housing Ministry is seeking bids to build an additional 228 housing units in West Bank settlements, despite a requirement for a freeze in settlement activity under the international "road map" peace plan.
According to a published tender, the construction plan is to build 150 units in the ultra-orthodox settlement of Beitar Illit and another 78 units in Efrat. Both settlements are within a few kilometers of East Jerusalem, where Palestinians hope to establish the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The "road map" peace process calls on Israel to halt all settlement activity in occupied territories. It also calls on the Palestinian Authority to crack down on militants attacking Israelis
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.
