Tel Aviv, August 12 (RHC)-- The Israeli regime has drawn up a plan to build 2,500 illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank in defiance of widespread calls to halt such unauthorized construction activities in the Palestinian lands.

Israeli media reports that the settler units will be erected in the neighborhood of Gilo situated in East Jerusalem's southwest. The project dubbed "Olive Trees District" covers an area of some 200 dunams (50 acres) in the occupied territories.

Most of the ground allocated for the illegal settler units is under private ownership, and some 30 percent belongs to Palestinians who live abroad. The project contractors recently held a meeting with local authorities, during which they called for the "immediate execution" of the initiative.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the construction project, saying Tel Aviv continues to disrespect international calls to end its illegal settlement activities in the occupied lands. The ministry further called on the international community to hold Israel responsible for the grave consequences of its obstruction of the so-called two-state solution.

Recently, the Tel Aviv regime approved plans to construct 770 out of 1,200 settlement units near the Palestinian town of Beit Jala. In response, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) denounced the unlawful moves, noting: "It is time to end Israel's dangerous lawlessness." Hanan Ashrawi said: "In the past few months, Israel has intensified its deliberate breach of international law and conventions and has employed a series of dangerous and violent policies and racist laws and legislation against the Palestinian people aimed to systematically destroy their homes and rob them of their land, resources and rights."