"As of midnight, settlers holding permits will be allowed to build their homes," Minister Yisrael Katz told some 3,000 Likud Central Committee members and party activists he invited into his sukkah on Sunday.
During the event, held at the minister's home in Moshav Kfar Achim, he lauded US President Barack Obama for recognizing Israel as the Jewish nation's homeland during his speech before the UN General Assembly.
"Places like Hebron, Shilo and Beit-El are also part of the Jewish people's heritage," said Katz, who is considered to be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'sconfidante.
Katz praised Netanyahu for insisting that the direct peace talks with the Palestinians be held without preconditions. He said that in any future agreement the government must keep Jerusalem united under Israeli sovereignty, preserve the holy sites, make certain that the borders are defendable and protect the settlers and settlements.
The minister said Israel must also refuse to allow "tens or hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees to return to the country.
"The State of Israel is the Jewish nation's state, with full equality for minorities," he said.