Israeli approval to settlement homes tests fragile coalition

Minister opposes clearance given to build 1,300 homes

A senior Israeli Minister said on Monday he opposes the government’s approval of more than 1,300 new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank, highlighting stark disagreements between the country’s ideologically divided coalition members.

The Israeli government on Sunday announced construction tenders for 1,355 housing units in the West Bank, the first such announcement of expansion of settlements in the territory during U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. The move appears to run contrary to the new government’s pledge to put ideological considerations aside and reduce tensions with the Palestinians.

The announcement was one of the final steps before the new settlement expansion can commence. It green lights bidding on contracts for hundreds of housing units in the settlements of Ariel, Beit El and other remote Jewish communities in the West Bank, a territory the Palestinians seek as part of a future state.