Lior Zebrag, an expert on Judea and Samaria construction, cools excitement over approval by the Supreme Planning Council of new construction in Judea and Samaria.
Zebrag says that "since the Council is the planning council it is the final part of the building process, but it does not authorize construction according to needs on the ground since it is subordinate to political elements. Only the prime minister and defense minister decide what will be authorized by the council. For this reason many properties remain stuck at the planning stage when they are ready to be built due to political considerations"
Zebrag adds that most of the construction approved is not for construction but at different stages of the planning process, so that the announcements that thousands of units were approved are misleading, since the approval refers mainly to previously authorized units which were in the authorization process.