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Israel Approves New Settlements, Escalating West Bank Crisis
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Israels recent approval of nineteen new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, raising the total to sixty-nine, has escalated tensions and dashed hopes for a Palestinian state. This surge in settlements, now numbering two hundred ten, is a significant increase from one hundred forty-one in 2022, according to Peace Now. These settlements, deemed illegal under international law, have been expanding rapidly under the current Israeli government, with retroactive legalization of some outposts and new builds on Palestinian land. The approvals also include the reopening of two old sites, Kadim and Ganim, which were previously dismantled. As the U.S. pressures Israel for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, the expansion of settlements continues, with over five hundred thousand Jews now living in West Bank settlements and another two hundred thousand in east Jerusalem. These developments significantly reshape the map and exacerbate tensions in the region.
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