JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli government committee approved construction permits for some 500 housing units in the West Bank settlement of Shiloh and legalized more than 100 already constructed units.
The housing units legalized Wednesday by the Civil Administration reportedly were built on state-owned land. They were legalized in response to a suit filed by Peace Now claiming that the units were illegal, Ynet reported.
It is unlikely that any new construction will begin in Shiloh, since it needs government approval, according to Ynet.
"We don’t believe it’s in any way constructive to getting both sides back to the negotiating table," U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said of the approvals.
Shiloh was home to the Tabernacle and was the temporary capital of Israel before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem.
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