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.
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.
Israel captured the strategic West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 war with the Hashemite Kingdom and Egypt. The population is majority Palestinian. Israel began building settlements for Jewish citizens in the area shortly after the war.
Most of the international community regards the settlements as illegal, since the West Bank is considered occupied. The United States, Israel’s top ally, also long considered the settlements illegal across Democratic and Republican administrations. However, last year, the Donald Trump administration reversed course.
