JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel will appoint a task force to issue building permits in the West Bank.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Interior Minister Eli Yishai agreed to create the task force Monday after requests from settlement leaders, Ha’aretz reported.
The task force, which will include a geographer, a jurist and archivists, will establish ownership of West Bank lands before building starts to ensure that construction takes place on Jewish-owned and not Palestinian-owned land. A previously appointed team was disbanded three years ago.
Since then, construction of schools, kindergartens and other public buildings has been held up, Ha’aretz reported.
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