Israel announces major settlement construction project

Israel officially plans to build new settlement housing units in the West Bank as the country builds momentum for annexation with some US support.
A view shows the Jewish settlement of Modiin Illit in the background and the Israeli barrier in the foreground in the village of Bilin, where a Friday anti-Israel weekly protest is held, as the area is seen empty of Palestinian demonstrators amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC2PNF9HQOZQ
The Jewish settlement of Modiin Illit appears in the background and the Israeli barrier in the foreground in the village of Bilin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 20, 2020. - REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Israel announced its plan to build new settlements in the West Bank today as the United States signals it will support Israeli annexation of the Palestinian territory and the top US diplomat plans a visit next week.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Defense Ministry said it had approved the building of around 7,000 housing units in Efrat between Jerusalem and Hebron, Reuters reported.

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