JERUSALEM: Israel announced on Wednesday that it will build new houses in the Jewish settlement of Beitar Illit near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, despite international calls to freeze such activity.

"Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed his ministry to invite tenders for the construction of 286 housing units in Beitar Illit," his ministry said in a statement.

The construction is "aimed at providing a solution to the urgent needs of the natural growth in Jerusalem and the lack of housing solutions for young couples in the ultra-Orthodox community," the statement said.

Earlier this month, the four main sponsors of the Middle East peace process – the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States – called on Israel to freeze the construction of further settlements in the West Bank.


- AFP/so