Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JERUSALEM, May 30 (Xinhua) — Israel on Thursday said it would establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, in what officials called a strategic expansion of Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territory.
A map published by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shows that the plan includes the rebuilding of two settlements, Homesh and Sa-Nur, in the northern part of the territory. They were evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet’s approval of the plan, calling it a “historic decision” to “strengthen our [Israeli] authority” in the West Bank.
The announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take full control of Gaza, while pro-settlement ministers, including B. Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, advocated moving evacuated Jewish settlements to Gaza.
Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War and has been expanding settlements there ever since. More than 720,000 Israeli settlers now live in heavily guarded communities there. –0–