Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be promoting a rare plan to expand Palestinian construction in Area C of the West Bank just days before senior White House adviser Jared Kushner is set to make a scheduled visit to Jerusalem.
According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan News on Monday, Netanyahu is seeking unanimous consent among government ministers to get approval for the project.
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Lengthy discussions have been held in recent days on the matter, with an agreement yet to be reached.
The controversial program is sure to raise the ire of right-wing leaders such as Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposes a future Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The development comes days before an expected visit by Kushner, who is the lead architect of the Trump administration's Mideast peace plan.
Senior officials in the Netanyahu government told Kan News that the plan is an "extremely sensitive" matter, but refused to comment on whether Netanyahu's construction proposal is connected with the peace plan or Kushner's upcoming visit.
A delegation of senior US officials, led by Kushner and White House special envoy Jason Greenblatt, are set to visit the Middle East in the coming days where they are expected to make stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The delegation is also expected to lobby for US President Donald Trump's peace plan in Egypt and Jordan.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
