Israel is making plans to build some 20,000 new houses for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, Israeli media reports said on Tuesday, dpa reported.
The Housing Ministry has called for tenders, the reports said. The ministry was unavailable for comment.
The Palestinians regard Israeli settlement building as one of the most contentious issues facing the peace talks with Israel, which resumed in July after a long break.
During his most recent visit to the Middle East, US Secretary of State John Kerry appealed to the Israelis to limit settlement building work in order to help the peace process succeed.
Two weeks ago Israel gave the green light to about 1,500 new apartments to be built in East Jerusalem.
That announcement - which was strongly condemned by the Palestinians - came shortly after Israel had released 26 more Palestinian prisoners as part of the peace negotiations.
More than 100 long-term Palestinian prisoners are to be freed as part of the process.