Israel confirms plan to create 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank
(VOVWORLD) - Israel says it plans to build 22 new settlements in the West Bank, the biggest expansion since 1967, when it occupied vast areas of the region.
 Israel builds thousands of settlement units in the West Bank. (Photo: Reuters) |
The plan includes brand new communities and the legalization of several wildcat outposts. The Defense Ministry said the move aims to cement Israel’s hold on the area and thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Regional media have noted that Israel’s settlement expansion will complicate the situation in the West Bank and make the prospect of establishing an independent Palestinian state more remote.