The Israeli government announced today new plans to construct 100 new homes at settlements in the occupied West Bank.

A Housing Ministry advertisement published in an Israeli newspaper first announced the opening bid for all construction firms interested in the rights to build the 100 homes. The work site will be opened at Ariel, in the northern West Bank and also in the small outlying enclave of El Kana. The decision comes despite the many international calls from the US and Europe for a freeze on settlement activity.

In 2003, at a peace conference hosted by U.S. President George W. Bush and attended by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, an agreement was reached on the halting of all settlement activity on occupied land.

The Israeli officials claimed that the new project will build new houses on some existing settlements and will not establish new settlements. "This construction of 50 [housing units] in Ariel and 50 in El Kana are in the framework of the policy of the government because it will be construction inside the built-up area of existing settlement blocks," said Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev according to BBC News.

Saeb Erekat, a well known Palestinian negotiator, expressed his dissaprovement as he considers the plans and resolutions an undermining of the peace process. He also added that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will discuss the matter with President Bush during his White House visit next week.

Under the new international law, all Jewish settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal even though Israel strongly disagrees.