JERUSALEM: Israel’s cabinet on Thursday referred a plan to allocate 1 billion shekels ($339.7 million) for the establishment of new settlements in the occupied West Bank to the security cabinet, deferring a vote on the funds, Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now said. The plan was promoted by far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of Israeli settlement expansion who has said he wants to bury the idea of Palestinian statehood.

A Government Decision to Allocate 125 Million Shekels for the Planning of Outposts Was Passed in a Telephone Vote Last Week, and Approval Is Soon Expected for a Transfer of Over a…

Axios's Barak Ravid reported on X/Twitter that the proposal is scheduled to be brought before the cabinet for approval. Additional details about the plan were not immediately…