This article is from the source 'rtcom' 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 https://www.rt.com/news/515320-israel-settlements-expansion-accelerate-biden/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| With Biden policy moves looming, Jewish National Fund to openly buy West Bank land, ACCELERATE EXPANSION of settlements – report | With Biden policy moves looming, Jewish National Fund to openly buy West Bank land, ACCELERATE EXPANSION of settlements – report |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is reportedly poised to resume buying land in the West Bank after a five-decade hiatus, clearing the way to speed settlement developments amid the threat of US opposition under President Joe Biden. | The Jewish National Fund (JNF) is reportedly poised to resume buying land in the West Bank after a five-decade hiatus, clearing the way to speed settlement developments amid the threat of US opposition under President Joe Biden. |
| JNF's board is expected to approve the new policy on Sunday, according to a report by US media outlet Axios. This would allow for direct involvement in West Bank land deals for the first time since the group stopped making such purchases under pressure from American donors in 1967. Founded in 1901 to buy property for Jews to settle in Ottoman Palestine, the multinational NGO currently owns about 15 percent of all land in present-day Israel. | JNF's board is expected to approve the new policy on Sunday, according to a report by US media outlet Axios. This would allow for direct involvement in West Bank land deals for the first time since the group stopped making such purchases under pressure from American donors in 1967. Founded in 1901 to buy property for Jews to settle in Ottoman Palestine, the multinational NGO currently owns about 15 percent of all land in present-day Israel. |
| A draft resolution of the new policy obtained by Axios calls for targeting land in the Jordan Valley and other areas deep in the occupied West Bank. JNF will only buy private, Palestinian-owned land that is in an existing Israeli settlement or immediately adjacent to one. It won't target property controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which are called Areas A and B. | A draft resolution of the new policy obtained by Axios calls for targeting land in the Jordan Valley and other areas deep in the occupied West Bank. JNF will only buy private, Palestinian-owned land that is in an existing Israeli settlement or immediately adjacent to one. It won't target property controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which are called Areas A and B. |
| In Area C – which is fully controlled by Israel and accounts for about 60 percent of West Bank land – pro-settlement lobbyists aim to more than double the population of Jewish settlers to 1 million from today's level of 400,000. Such ambitions were embraced under former President Donald Trump, whose peace plan for the region gave Israel the green light to annex about 30 percent of the West Bank. Israel has occupied the territory since capturing it during 1967's Six Day War. | In Area C – which is fully controlled by Israel and accounts for about 60 percent of West Bank land – pro-settlement lobbyists aim to more than double the population of Jewish settlers to 1 million from today's level of 400,000. Such ambitions were embraced under former President Donald Trump, whose peace plan for the region gave Israel the green light to annex about 30 percent of the West Bank. Israel has occupied the territory since capturing it during 1967's Six Day War. |
| The US plan also required Israel to freeze settlement activity in the other 70 percent of the West Bank for four years, but Trump was the first US president to openly support Israeli annexation of West Bank lands. Trump's top diplomat, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, visited the settlements and declared them to be legal under international law. | The US plan also required Israel to freeze settlement activity in the other 70 percent of the West Bank for four years, but Trump was the first US president to openly support Israeli annexation of West Bank lands. Trump's top diplomat, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, visited the settlements and declared them to be legal under international law. |
| The newly installed US administration is expected to take a different approach, consistent with Biden’s past opposition to expansionist policies. At least as far back as 1982, he warned Israel that expansion of West Bank settlements would jeopardize foreign aid. | The newly installed US administration is expected to take a different approach, consistent with Biden’s past opposition to expansionist policies. At least as far back as 1982, he warned Israel that expansion of West Bank settlements would jeopardize foreign aid. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy appears to be accelerating settlement activity before the US hammer drops, rather than trying to appease Biden and avert a confrontation. Last month, just nine days before Biden was inaugurated, Netanyahu's office announced plans to build 800 new settler homes in the West Bank. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy appears to be accelerating settlement activity before the US hammer drops, rather than trying to appease Biden and avert a confrontation. Last month, just nine days before Biden was inaugurated, Netanyahu's office announced plans to build 800 new settler homes in the West Bank. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |