The Israeli occupation authorities announced their intention to approve the construction of 5,300 colonial units in the occupied West Bank, despite mounting international criticism. Palestinian news agency (Wafa) reported today Israeli media as saying that "the Israeli Supreme Planning Council (governmental) will meet today and tomorrow to approve the construction of 5,300 colonial units throughout the West Bank." Wafa quoted Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as saying, "we develop colonialism and thwart the threat of establishing a Palestinian state." Two days ago, Smotrich vowed to build a new colony for every new international recognition of the State of Palestine. The UN has confirmed that colonization in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal, and has been calling for decades to stop it, warning that it undermines the chances of resolving the conflict in accordance with the principle of a two-state solution. Source: Qatar News Agency