Smotrich said the new homes will "strengthen our hold on the land, reinforce Israel's security, and establish clear facts on the ground that prevent the creation of an Arab terror state in the heart of the country".
The Palestinian Authority, who had planned to construct settlements there, warned that Israel's "provocative" policies are pushing the region toward more violence, and called on the US to stop the Israeli "madness".
Most nations consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution and long-term peace.
