Israel’s government has approved more than 1 billion shekels ($334 million) to build and upgrade roads connecting illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media.

Israel’s Channel 7 reported Thursday that the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the funding to finance new roads and upgrade existing infrastructure linking dozens of illegal settlements authorized by the Security Cabinet during the war.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, described the decision as “historic.”

Smotrich said the funding would facilitate the establishment of dozens of illegal settlements in “strategic locations” across the occupied West Bank.

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