How Israel is expanding settlements in drive to reshape West Bank
The Israeli government is accelerating the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, specifically in the E1 area near Jerusalem. This move has drawn widespread international condemnation, with critics arguing it threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Why it matters
The expansion of settlements is a major point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, complicating long-term peace efforts and drawing criticism from major global powers.
Image source, Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images By Joe Inwood World news correspondent Published 13 minutes ago It was during a ceremony at a settlement in the occupied West Bank last September that Israel's prime minister made his intentions clear. "We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state," said Benjamin Netanyahu. "This place belongs to us."
He was signing an agreement to push ahead with the expansion of a settlement in an area known as E1, just to the east of Jerusalem.
In recent days, the opening up of tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes on the strategically important land has brought widespread condemnation.
All settlements are illegal under international law and, under global pressure, Israel held off for decades on plans to build in the area.
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