An Israeli committee on Wednesday approved construction of 500 new homes in the West Bank settlement of Shilo and retroactively legalised more than 200 built without permits, a spokesman said. The committee, which falls under the auspices of the defence ministry, approved "construction of 500 units," civil administration spokesman Guy Inbar told AFP.
He also confirmed reports that more than 200 homes which were built without a permit, some in the nearby settler outpost of Shvut Rachel, would be legalised. "Yes it's true - they will be legalised for humanitarian reasons," he said.