TEL AVIV, February 25, 2007, (WAFA)-The Supreme Planning Council for the West Bank recently legalized the largest-ever illegal construction project in the West Bank. Part of the project is situated on private land, which belongs to Palestinian residents of the village of Bil'in, Haaretz daily reported Sunday.

According to the daily, the project calls for the construction of 42 buildings containing approximately 1,500 apartments. The buildings, already in various stages of construction, are in the neighborhood of Matityahu East, which is located in the large ultra-Orthodox settlement of Modi'in Ilit.

Peace Now and Bil'in residents filed a petition against the construction a week ago at the High Court of Justice.

The petitioners' attorney, Michael Sfard, who asked that construction be halted, said the planning authorities knew about the illegal circumstances and did nothing to stop the construction.

M.H.(09:30 P)(07:30 GMT)