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Israeli Cabinet Approves First West Bank Settlement in 20 Years


A worker is seen at a construction site in the Jewish settlement of Shilo, March 3, 2014. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced March 30, 2017, plans to build a new West Bank settlement in an area called Emek Shilo.
A worker is seen at a construction site in the Jewish settlement of Shilo, March 3, 2014. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced March 30, 2017, plans to build a new West Bank settlement in an area called Emek Shilo.

Israel's security cabinet on Thursday approved the building of the first new settlement in the occupied West Bank in two decades, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiates with Washington on a possible curb on settlement activity.

The unanimous vote in favor of construction of the new settlement in an area called Emek Shilo came after Netanyahu earlier told reporters: “I made a promise that we would establish a new settlement ... We will keep it today.”

The result of the vote was announced in a government statement.

PLO condemns vote

Palestinian officials swiftly condemned the move.

“Today's announcement once again proves that Israel is more committed to appeasing its illegal settler population than to abiding by the requirements for stability and a just peace,” said Hanan Ashrawi, an executive committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

There was no immediate reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which is in discussions with Israel on limiting the construction of settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state.

Such settlements, in territory that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war, are deemed illegal by most of the world.

Israel cites biblical, historical and political links to the land, as well as security interests, to defend its actions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting, in Jerusalem, Feb. 19, 2017.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting, in Jerusalem, Feb. 19, 2017.

Prime minister keeps his word

Netanyahu first promised the new settlement at Emek Shilo in February, shortly before dozens of Israeli families were evicted from another West Bank settlement called Amona. Their houses were razed after Israel's Supreme Court said they were built illegally on privately owned Palestinian land.

Establishing a new settlement may be a way for Netanyahu to appease far-right members of his coalition government who are likely to object to any concessions to U.S. demands for restraints on building.

Israeli political sources, however, said the new construction would actually take place within the boundaries of an existing settlement. The new community would then be declared its own settlement, a nuance that might be enough to stave off possible U.S. opposition to the move.

Trump, who had been widely seen in Israel as sympathetic towards settlements, appeared to surprise Netanyahu during a White House visit last month when he urged him to “hold back on settlements for a little bit.”

The two then agreed that their aides would try to work out a compromise on how much Israel can build and where.

U.S. President Trump's peace process envoy Jason Greenblatt, left, meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the President's office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 14, 2017.
U.S. President Trump's peace process envoy Jason Greenblatt, left, meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the President's office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 14, 2017.

President's envoy pushes peace talks

Trump's Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, this week wrapped up a second trip to the region aimed at reviving Middle East peace talks that collapsed in 2014.

A new settlement would be the first built in the West Bank since 1999. About 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank which is also home to 2.8 million Palestinians. Another 200,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem.

Palestinians want the West Bank and East Jerusalem for their own state, along with the Gaza Strip.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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