17% Increase in Israel’s Settlement Construction

Occupied Jerusalem, MINA – Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank surged 17 per cent over 2017, Israeli monitoring group Peace Now said in a report released on Monday evening.

According to data issued by the group, Israel began construction of 2,783 settlement homes in 2017, 17 per cent more than the annual average since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office in 2009.

The vast majority of the new “homes” – 78 per cent – were in settlements which would likely have to be evacuated if a Palestinian state was established, Peace Now added.

Additionally, eight per cent were in illegal outposts which are not authorised by the state. US President Donald Trump has taken a softer line on Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank than his predecessors.

He has asked Israel to show restraint at times, but avoided the strong condemnations voiced particularly by Barack Obama.

“The steady pace of construction and building deep in the West Bank attest to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s steadfast abetting of the settlement enterprise,” the report said. “It is also apparent that the new US presidency in 2017 had no marginal deterrent effect on these Israeli unilateral moves.”(R/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)