(Transcripts from SBS World News Radio)
The United Nations, Egypt and the United States have responded to Israel's decision to seize new land for settlement in the West Bank.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says he's alarmed by the move, as a fragile cease-fire holds in the Gaza Strip.
Anti-settlement groups are calling it the biggest land grab in 30 years, and fear a re-emergence of conflict.
Abby Dinham reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
The four hundred hectares of land is in the region where three Jewish boys were kidnapped and killed by Palestinians who Israel claims were affiliated with Hamas, an event that preceded the 50-day war in the Gaza Strip.
Currently, ten families live in the area near a Jewish seminary.
Yariv Oppenhiemer, from the Israeli anti-settlement group, Peace Now, says most of the land is claimed by Palestinians who use it to grow olives.
"This new declaration of expansion of settlement by the Israeli government is very significant. We do not remember such a big announcement since the last one or two decades this is a stab in the back of (Palestinian President Mahmud) Abbas and the moderate people in the Palestinian Authority instead of strengthening the Palestinian Authority versus Hamas, Israel is showing its harder side and actually in a unilateral move expand settlement activity and destroy the chance for re-negotiation with the Palestinian Authority."
Construction of a permanent Jewish settlement at the location, known as "Gevaot", had been mooted since 2000.
But last year, the government invited bids for the building of one-thousand housing units at the site.
Ahmad Sukar is the head of the Wadi Fukin village council, which encompasses part of the new settlement.
He says residents were surprised that construction will begin again.
(Translated)"We were surprised in the early hours when the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli military gave warnings and put signs declaring the appropriation in many areas in Wadi Fukin."
Most Western countries regard Israel's settlements illegal under international law, and an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
And even some in the Israeli government believe the timing of this decision was poor.
Israeli Finance Minister, Yair Lapid says he will need to examine the decision in full to determine the reason for the declaration.
"Basically we are against any swift changes within the West Bank right now, as we need to go back to some kind of process there."
Mr Lapid is calling for a regional conference to ensure the current ceasefire sticks.
"We must return the Palestinian Authority to the (Gaza) border crossings where they legally belong. We must ensure Hamas doesn't rearm, we must ensure that the framework is put in place for a sustainable and long-term solution. The success of a regional conference can also provide a framework for wider diplomatic horizon which will take advantage of the changes in the region to the mutual benefit of Israel and the Arab world."
The appropriation gives anyone with ownership claims 45 days to appeal.
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