The White House and the State Department criticized Israel for reissuing tenders, or construction bids, to build 450 housing units in the West Bank.
The announcement will “further isolate Israel internationally,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Jan. 30 at a press briefing.
“We believe that settlements are illegitimate and are counterproductive to achieving a two-state outcome,” Psaki said.
The Adam and Elkana settlements accounted for a combined 260 of the apartments, with another 102 to be built in Kiryat Arba, near Hebron. The remaining 78 units, Israel Radio reported, are to be built in Alfei Menashe.
Israeli housing authorities have said the tenders are not new, having been released previously. — jta