This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38215653

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israel advances bill to legalise West Bank settlements Israeli MPs advance bill to legalise West Bank outposts
(about 5 hours later)
The Israeli parliament has given preliminary approval to a controversial bill that would legalise thousands of homes built in the occupied West Bank. Israeli MPs have given preliminary backing to a controversial bill to legalise thousands of unauthorised Jewish homes in the West Bank.
The bill's main backer, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, called it the start of Israel's annexation of most of the territory, which is disputed between Israelis and Palestinians. It applies to "outposts" - settlements built without official approval in the area occupied by Israel since 1967.
Critics of Israel and Palestinians have called it a land grab. The international community regards all settlements as illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
The bill still needs to pass three readings in parliament to become law. Palestinians see settlements as a major obstacle to a peace deal with Israel.
Around 4,000 settler homes, which were built without permission, will be legitimised if it goes ahead. They want all settlements and outposts to be removed from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which they seek for a future Palestinian state.
The settlements are considered illegal under international law. According to the anti-settlement movement Peace Now, there are 97 outposts, as well as more than 130 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
An earlier version of the bill also reached this stage but failed when politicians clashed over the fate of Amona, a settler outpost in the West Bank. The bill, which would legitimise about 4,000 settler homes, still needs to pass three readings in Israel's parliament to become law.
A clause mentioning Amona by name has since been deleted, meaning that this area will not be legalised. It is due to be evacuated on 25 December. Its main backer, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, has called it the eventual start of Israel's annexation of most of the occupied territory.
The move has drawn international criticism, including from the US, Israel's closest ally.