Israel announces plan to expand illegal settlement in occupied West Bank

Israel announces plan to expand illegal settlement in occupied West Bank Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced plans to build 763 new housing units in the illegal Eli settlement south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to Anadolu, as cited by Al Jazeera. Speaking to Israel's Channel 14, Smotrich said the government would continue building settlement farms and communities. Anadolu reported that the planned expansion would triple the size of the Eli settlement over the coming years. The announcement comes a day after violence near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, where four Palestinians were shot dead while fending off a settler and Israeli army raid. Earlier this month, Smotrich said Israel's security cabinet had approved a budget of $434 million to establish 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The settlement of Havat Gilad was established as an unauthorized outpost in 2002. (AFP)