Israel plans to announce a push for more construction in Jewish settlements when it frees two dozen Palestinian prisoners next week, an Israeli official said on Wednesday, in a move that could put at risk U.S.-brokered peace talks.
Palestinians have said any further settlement expansion could scamper the negotiations, which resumed in July after serious shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Talks ran aground in 2010 over the same issue.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to pledge more settlement building, often timing the announcement of these plans to offset the anger of far-right political partners at Israel’s release of Palestinians jailed for deadly attacks.
“Israel will declare new building in the settlements next week,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He would not say how many units were planned or where.
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon hinted at new settlement plans as well during a visit to a military base where he told reporters:
“I think it is our right to build, certainly according to our understandings and agreements with the Americans. And in accordance with that, we shall continue to build.”
Israel has said it will free two dozen Palestinian prisoners on December 29, the third batch of inmates released since August.
In all, 104 long-serving Palestinian inmates will go free, once a fourth group of prisoners is released at a later time.
