Israel will allow almost 3,000 Jewish settlers to move into the occupied West Bank, as US voices express concern about the plans

  • A committee from Israel is expected to meet Wednesday to confirm the plans
  • It would make it more difficult to create a Palestinian state. This is the latest development of a long-running conflict.
  • Although the West Bank has been occupied since 1967 by Israel, it is still a hotly contested area.
  • The Palestinians believe they have an historical right to the area
  • There are approximately 3 million Palestinian Arabs living in the West Bank. Nearly 430,000 Israeli Jews also live there.










Watchdog group said today that Israel is poised to build thousands of homes for Jewish settlers on the West Bank this week. 

The US has called for restraint over the plan to build almost 3,000 new homes in the West Bank.

Hagit Ofran from the anti-settlement organization Peace Now said that a committee was set to meet Wednesday to approve 2,800 units deep within the West Bank.

It would complicate any attempts to create a Palestinian nation and is the latest development in a long-running conflict in the region.

Despite international opinion deeming such settlements illegal and a majority of residences not receiving final approval, construction could begin as soon as next year. 

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. However, the land is fiercely contested by Palestinians who claim a historical right. 

This file photo taken on October 5, 2021, shows a view of construction work in the Jewish settlement of Givat Zeev, near the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank

This file photo was taken on October 5, 2021. It shows construction work in Givat Zeev near Ramallah, an Israeli-occupied West Bank town. Israel plans to build more homes for Jewish settlers in occupied West Bank

The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967, but the land is strongly contested and remains the source of a long, protracted conflict in the region between Israel and the Palestinians

The West Bank has been occupied in Israel since 1967. However, the land remains contested and is the source of a long-running conflict in the region between Israel & the Palestinians

Israel is expected to move forward this week with thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied territory

Israel is expected to move forward with thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers within the occupied territory this week

Ned Price, spokesperson US State Department, said Friday that America is ‘concerned about’ the housing plans.

He asked Israel and the Palestinians not to take unilateral steps that could exacerbate tension or undermine efforts to reach a negotiated solution of the conflict.  

The Palestinians want the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem – areas Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war – for their state.

The West Bank settlements by Israel are seen as a major obstacle to peace by the Palestinians, who claim a historical rights to the region and the Gaza strip.

Approximately 3 million Palestinian Arabs live on the West Bank, under limited self-rule or Israeli military rule. Nearly 430,000 Israeli Jews live in clusters of settlements built under Israeli occupation. 

Former Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu previously said that Israeli settlements should not constitute an obstacle to peace in the region, but was vocal about his intention to continue building settlements despite widespread international condemnation.

Current Israeli leader Naftali Bennett intends to uphold his predecessor's stance as the government is set to green light the construction of yet more settlements

Former Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu (left), once stated that Israeli settlements should be considered an obstacle to peace in the area. He was vocal however about his determination to continue building settlements, despite widespread international condemnation.

On Friday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said America is 'concerned' about the housing plans and called on Israel and the Palestinians to 'refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tension'.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated Friday that America is concerned about the housing plans. He also called on Israel to refrain from unilateral actions that would exacerbate tension.

The majority of the international legal community considers these settlements illegal. However, Israel regards the West Bank to be the biblical and historical heartland.

Israel also believes that the West Bank is crucial to its self-defense.

Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli president, once stated that Israeli settlements shouldn’t be an obstacle for peace in the region. He was vocal about his determination to continue building settlements despite widespread international condemnation.

Israeli authorities are expected to approve the construction a thousand more residences, indicating that Naftali Bennett, the current leader, intends to maintain his predecessor’s stance. 

Peace Now, an anti-settlement group, also stated that Israel is set to approve 1,600 units of Palestinian housing in West Bank areas it controls.

Critics claim that the move was initiated by villagers and not the Israeli government. They also claim that the figure is only a fraction of all the building permits requested over the years by Palestinians.

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