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Israel just passed largest West Bank settlement approvals in history

That is 34 new settlements across the occupied West Bank approved by the Israeli government under the fog of war.

Secrecy surrounds the decision at the request of the US administration, according to the latest Israeli reporting.

What that means is that these settlements will be established not just in areas where there may be no Palestinian residents, but still in the occupied West Bank, and even in areas under the purview of Palestinian cities labelled so-called area A under full Palestinian control.

It is unprecedented, but it is in line with the Israeli coalition programme, adopted back in 2022, for a full annexation of the occupied West Bank. That means this government has approved 103 new settlements since its founding.