RAMALLAH, Palestine

Israeli authorities approved a plan that aims to expropriate 147 dunums (147,000 square meters) of Palestinian lands in Bethlehem, West Bank.

Hassan Breijeh, director of the Bethlehem office of the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, said the expropriated lands belong to Nahalin and Husan villages, west of Bethlehem, where the Israeli authorities are seeking to make room for 560 settlement units and construct a road for settlers' only use in Beitar Illit settlement.

Breijeh added his office will file complaints against the seizure of the lands in Israeli courts.

According to figures by the Israeli rights group Peace Now, around 661,000 Israeli settlers are living in West Bank and East Jerusalem in 132 settlements along with other 124 settlement outposts. Such settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied Palestinian lands.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara