The Israeli government essentially approving of 3,500 housing units in three different illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank.
According to Al Jazeera reporter Hamdah Salhut, this is the first time since the beginning of the war on October 7 that we have seen approvals for housing units in illegal settlements. Leading up to the war as well, in occupied East Jerusalem, 3,700 units in illegal settlements were approved.
This development comes after Israel’s finance minister and known ultra-nationalist Bezalel Smotrich said that there would be illegal settlement expansions in retaliation for a shooting that took place at one of these settlements in February.
Bezalel is not just only Israel’s finance minister. He also holds a role within Israel’s Defence Ministry. So he is in charge of some civil affairs within the occupied West Bank and primarily those that oversee and approve settlement housing units. They can be approved at his demand.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
