Israeli authorities announced Sunday a new project to build 64 housing units for Jews northwest of occupied Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Municipality of the Israeli occupation said in a statement, quoted by the Israeli radio, that a local committee for construction in Jerusalem has ratified construction of Jewish settlement inside the green line.
The green line is demarcation line established in 1949 Armistice agreements between armies of Israel and neighboring countries - Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt - after 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
The municipality said the new housing units aimed at addressing housing problems facing settlers, and to lure Israelis to stay in occupied Jerusalem.
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee, described the new settlement as "ethnic cleansing" against occupied Jerusalem that aimed at replacing the original inhabitants with Jews.
European and international bodies, including the UN, have warned Israel against the continuatoin of its settlement expansion policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.