Israel Approves 19 New West Bank Settlements, Citing Block to Palestinian State

Israel has approved the construction of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move was announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich leads a far-right party in Israel's government. He stated the approval was a direct effort to prevent a future Palestinian state. The West Bank is territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Most countries consider settlements there to be illegal under international law. Israel disputes this. Palestinians seek the West Bank as part of a future independent state. The new settlements could make a contiguous Palestinian state more difficult to establish. The approval follows increased settlement expansion plans this year. It is likely to draw criticism from the United States and other allies.