Israel advances construction of 181 homes in east Jerusalem

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2011 file photo construction cranes are seen at the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo in Jerusalem. A Jerusalem city official says authorities have pushed forward plans to build 181 new homes in east Jerusalem Gilo area. srael captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967. Israel subsequently annexed east Jerusalem and considers areas like Gilo to be neighborhoods of its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital, and most of the world considers settlement construction there and in the West Bank illegal or illegitimate. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, file) (The Associated Press)

JERUSALEM – A Jerusalem city official says authorities have pushed forward plans to build 181 new homes in east Jerusalem.

Brachie Sprung says plans in the Gilo area were first approved in 2012 and that Wednesday's approvals by a municipal building permit sub-committee were for "technical details of plot distribution."

She says more detailed building permits will be required before the units are built. But the approval nonetheless is likely to infuriate the Palestinians and the international community.

Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967.

Israel subsequently annexed east Jerusalem and considers areas like Gilo to be neighborhoods of its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital, and most of the world considers settlement construction there and in the West Bank illegal or illegitimate.