Israel’s far-right cabinet has approved the legalization of nine illegal settler outposts in the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, which called the move an “open war” against its people.
More than half a million Israelis live in more than 200 settlements built on Palestinian land considered illegal under international laws. Palestinians say the settlement expansion threatens the viability of the future Palestinian state as part of the two-state solution.
“This is an escalation, this will increase the level of violence against the property of the Palestinians,” political analyst Mohammad Oweis said. The announcement comes amid escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence, with at least 46 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces this year. Nine Israelis and one Ukrainian have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the past six weeks.
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