Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday approved the expansion of settlement blocs in the West Bank despite international pressure to halt construction in the occupied territories.

Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced the development of 2,500 new housing units, with most located within settlement blocs.

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“We are building — and will continue to build,” Netanyahu said, according to Israeli media.

Today's news follows reports from Monday that Netanyahu has also ordered the lifting of restrictions on construction in East Jerusalem, with hundreds of new units already in the planning stage.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution in December calling for an immediate end to Israeli settlement expansion.

The resolution was able to pass following a rare abstention by the U.S., which sparked tensions between the outgoing Obama administration and the Israeli government.

The approval of new settlement units in the West Bank appears to signal a new attitude by Netanyahu, bolstered by President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s promise that he will usher in a new era in the relationship between the two countries.