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| Israel 'announces 2,500 new settler homes', signalling new approach under Donald Trump | Israel 'announces 2,500 new settler homes', signalling new approach under Donald Trump |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel has approved the building of 2,500 new West Bank settlement homes, signalling a bold new policy approach now Donald Trump has taken office. | |
| The Defence Ministry's announcement on Tuesday follows Sunday's decision to grant building permits for 566 new Jewish settler homes in East Jerusalem. | The Defence Ministry's announcement on Tuesday follows Sunday's decision to grant building permits for 566 new Jewish settler homes in East Jerusalem. |
| The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) demanded international action on the major expansions, saying in a statement it believed the Israeli moves came as a result of "what they consider encouragement by American President Donald Trump." | |
| Most of the building will take place in existing blocs in the West Bank in order to satisfy housing demands, a statement signed off by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said. | Most of the building will take place in existing blocs in the West Bank in order to satisfy housing demands, a statement signed off by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said. |
| Israeli building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the 1967 Green Line is viewed as illegal under international law. | Israeli building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the 1967 Green Line is viewed as illegal under international law. |
| The East Jerusalem settler homes had been delayed until Barack Obama – who was critical of settlement-building – left office, officials said. | |
| It was not immediately clear whether the West Bank building plans had been planned prior to Mr Trump's election, as there are several stages involved in the process. | It was not immediately clear whether the West Bank building plans had been planned prior to Mr Trump's election, as there are several stages involved in the process. |
| The incoming Trump administration has struck a much more sympathetic tone towards Israel than his predecessor. | The incoming Trump administration has struck a much more sympathetic tone towards Israel than his predecessor. |
| Mr Trump spoke with Mr Netanyahu on Sunday in what was described as a "very warm" conversation. | Mr Trump spoke with Mr Netanyahu on Sunday in what was described as a "very warm" conversation. |
| His pick for ambassador to the country, David Friedman, is strongly pro-settlements. | His pick for ambassador to the country, David Friedman, is strongly pro-settlements. |
| Since the 1970s successive Israeli governments have encouraged large numbers of Jews to move onto what is viewed internationally as occupied land. | Since the 1970s successive Israeli governments have encouraged large numbers of Jews to move onto what is viewed internationally as occupied land. |
| The total settler population in the West Bank is now thought to be 550,000 strong. | The total settler population in the West Bank is now thought to be 550,000 strong. |
| Settlement building, which has increased year-on-year under the current, right-wing Prime Minister Netanyahu, is viewed as one of the major stumbling blocks to a lasting peace deal in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | |
| Mr Netanyahu says the Palestinian failure to recognise Israel as a Jewish state is the biggest obstacle to peace, rather than settlements. | Mr Netanyahu says the Palestinian failure to recognise Israel as a Jewish state is the biggest obstacle to peace, rather than settlements. |