( CNN ) -- The Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing has issued tenders for the building of 1,877 settlement units in the West Bank and Jerusalem . A spokesman for the minister of housing said new projects have been announced and will be published Sunday . `` The notices are for builders to bid on contracts to construct projects , '' spokesman Arik Ben Shimon said . In a statement , Israeli settlement watch group , Peace Now , said the move is a blow to the efforts by U.S. Secretary of State , John Kerry , to work out a framework agreement for the resumption of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis . `` A government that issues tenders for almost 1,900 housing units is fooling its own public , the Palestinians leadership , the international community and especially the U.S. Secretary of State , who has just recently left the region , '' Peace Now said in a statement . Since the beginning of Kerry 's efforts , Israel has issued new tenders for 5,349 settlement units . Of the total , 2,258 are to be built in the West Bank and 3,091 in East Jerusalem , Peace Now said . `` The current Israeli government under ( Prime Minister Benjamin ) Netanyahu has issued tenders for 11,047 settlement units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank , and were promoted through different stages , '' said Lior Amihai , acting director for Peace Now . Marc Regev , a spokesman for the Prime Minister , said they have yet to receive any reaction from the United States . `` The only thing we are saying is that the tender speaks for itself , '' he said . Palestinian officials said the announcement was a `` slap in the face for all those who are trying to make peace . '' `` This is a deliberate attempt by the Israeli government to torpedo and destroy Kerry 's efforts , '' said Palestinian chief negotiator , Sa'eb Erekat . `` As much as Mr. Kerry intensifies his efforts to achieve peace , Netanyahu intensifies his efforts to torpedo Kerry 's efforts . This is a total destructive policy towards peace . '' He called on the U.S. to hold Israel accountable .
It issues tenders for the building of 1,877 settlement units . `` The notices are for builders to bid on contracts to construct projects , '' spokesman says . Palestinian officials say the announcement is a `` slap in the face ''