The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Thursday approved the construction of hundreds of settler houses in southeast Bethlehem.
Hassan Brijieh the director of the Office of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority stated in a press statement that the IOA has approved the establishment of 560 settlement units in the Metsad settlement which is built on the lands of citizens in the villages of Kisan and Rashaida.
Brijieh added that this decision comes after the approval a few days ago of the establishment of 90 other settlement units in the Ibi Hanhal settlement which is built on the lands of the village of Kisan.
He stated that this acceleration of settlement expansion is an explicit aim to control the southeastern region of Bethlehem district and link the settlements together.
On Wednesday settlers seized an old building in Rajem al-Naqah in Berry Al-Rashaida east of Bethlehem.
