Israel has approved the construction of 212 new settler units in the occupied Palestinian territories in flagrant disregard of widespread international condemnation.

The so-called Jerusalem Local Planning and Construction Committee approved on Wednesday the construction of the new structures in the East Jerusalem al-Quds neighborhoods of Pisgat Ze'ev and Ramat Shlomo.

The project is part of a major drive by the Tel Aviv regime to build more settlements on the occupied lands. The US administration has given the go-ahead to the Israeli construction activities.

'Israel should be pressured into ending settlement activities'

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the new construction project in East Jerusalem al-Quds was in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. The resolution, which was adopted in December 2016, condemned the settlements as a “flagrant violation of international law."

A demonstrator holds a Palestinian flag as Israeli forces clash with Palestinians protesting against a planned new settlement near Mughayyir village close to the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 24, 2017. (Photo by AP)

The project is an attempt to seize more Palestinian lands and block international efforts to revive negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis over the so-called two-state solution to the decades-long conflict between the two sides, the ministry said.

It further urged the international community to assume responsibility toward international resolutions and take measures to implement Resolution 2334 in order to pressure Israel into abandoning its settlement expansion policy.

More than 230 Israeli settlements have been built since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The international community views the Israeli settlements as illegal under the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied territory.

Tel Aviv has accelerated its land grab and settlement construction activities in the occupied Palestinian lands after pro-Israel US President Donald Trump took office earlier this year.

Earlier this month, the Israeli parliament approved a controversial law targeting what are said to be illegal constructions amid criticisms that the legislation will disproportionately affect Palestinians and Arab communities.

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