The Jerusalem municipality said on Sunday it is pushing forward with 566 new housing units for Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem, swiftly moving into action as the seemingly favourable President Donald Trump takes office. The international community largely regards settlements as illegal or illegitimate and a key obstacle to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike other West Bank settlements, Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers its neighbourhoods inseparable parts of its capital. But the Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital and consider Jewish neighbourhoods there just like any other settlements. Read | Israel protests UN vote condemning settlements, halts $6 million paymentUS administrations have traditionally condemned all Israeli settlement plans as counterproductive.

Source: Hindustan Times January 22, 2017 13:25 UTC