(VOVworld) – The Israeli government on Thursday approved the building of the first new settlement in the West Bank to compensate for people living in Amona, an illegal settlement broken down in February by the Israeli Court.

The Asael settlement of Israeli people in southern Hebron town, West Bank, on March 24 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

This is the first time in 20 years that Israel has established a new West Bank settlement. The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office’s statement, following the security cabinet, said the new settlement will be built near the Shilo settlement.
The Israeli government also approved to build 2,000 homes in the settlement. A White House official said the negotiations between Israel and the US on restrictions of building the settlement are still going on, but the decision on a new settlement to replace Amona is not on the agenda.