Israel to approve plan to fund de facto establishment of 61 new West Bank settlements, Axios reporter says
Israeli cabinet is set to approve on Thursday a plan to fund the de facto establishment of 61 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, Axios reporter Barak Ravid posted on social media platform X on Wednesday.
Israel’s hardline finance minister earlier announced a major expansion by more than 2,000 homes of three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank that Palestinians hope will be part of a future independent state.
Most nations consider Israeli settlements there to be illegal under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution for long-term peace.
Bezalel Smotrich, who holds authority over parts of Israel’s civilian administration in the West Bank, said a planning committee approved the construction of 2,162 new Jewish homes.
