Zionist occupation authorities approved the construction of 98 settlements in the occupied West Bank and an industrial zone near Palestinian political capital Ramallah, the watchdog Peace Now said on Saturday.

“While world leaders are gathering to commemorate (former Israeli prime minister) Shimon Peres and his path to peace, the Israeli government is creating another obstacle for the two-state solution by establishing a new settlement in the heart of the West Bank,” Peace Now said in a statement.

Peres, 93, died on Wednesday and was buried on Friday at a ceremony attended by many world leaders including President Barack Obama of the United States, which has tried to broker new Zionist-Palestinian peace talks.

Peace Now spokeswoman Hagit Ofran told AFP that two settlement projects were approved on Wednesday by the Zionist military after being given the go-ahead by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Zionist settlements in east al Quds and the occupied West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law.

Source: AFP