Progressive Politics

you don't need authority to allow something to happen or approve of a source of action, but I'll concede that "allow" implies inapplicable idling. I really can't think of other ways to convey that the construction would cut West Bank in half and either that a government "tender, which seeks bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project" or "Settlement development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to U.S. pressure during previous administrations." I can't say "advances plan" either because they're opening up submissions for plans.

FWIW I would endorse "approve" in your gas station example.

edit: had→gas