Israeli Occupation forces have begun construction of a new bypass road to serve settlers in the West Bank, despite widespread Palestinian objections to the settlement project.

The "Israel Hayome" newspaper mentioned on Monday, that the works began yesterday, aimed at the construction of a bypass road between Aroub and Beit Ummar in the south of the occupied West Bank, at a length of 7 kilometers.

The Occupation authorities approved the construction of this road six years ago, and called the occupation "the road of the heart of Judea," and is expected to open by 2022.

The newspaper pointed out that this road is part of a broader plan of transportation, developed by the Council of Settlements, with the aim of linking settlement areas in the south and north of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

The road, which connects the center of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc with the Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron, bypasses the villages of al-'Arub and Beit Ummar, claiming that they are "dangerous villages" for settlers, and that travel on this road will be "safe and comfortable."

"The bypass roads are an integral part of improving the infrastructure of settlements. Two years ago, the bypass plan was approved," said the head of the settlements council, Hananil Dorni.

Dorni added that the ministries of transportation, finance, security, the prime minister's office and the Civil Administration are partners in this settlement plan. "The development of infrastructure in Judea and Samaria is undoubtedly the key to bringing another million settlers and advancing Israeli sovereignty over the region," he said.

The occupation authorities are working on marking the route in the first phase of the settlement project, and by April, the road will be built and paved. The cost of this project is NIS 320 million.