STORY: Israel approves new settler homes in West Bank: report
DATELINE: June 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: Jerusalem
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of settlements in West Bank
2. various of Israeli Cabinet meeting
3. various of construction of settlement
4. various of a shooting attack near Eli settlement on June 20
5. various of construction of settlement

STORYLINE:

Israel approved on Monday plans to construct thousands of new homes in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, multiple Israeli media reported.
   
According to the Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper, the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration, an Israeli body that approves construction in the West Bank, permitted 5,623 new housing units.
   
In Eli, where a pair of Palestinian gunmen killed four Israelis last week, 1,057 new homes were approved. The plan to build new homes in this settlement was initially announced last week by Betzalel Smotrich, a settler and Israel's Finance Minister, who described it as "a response" to the attack.
   
The other housing units are planned to be built in various settlements throughout the West Bank.
   
Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog, said in a press release that following the new approvals, 2023 emerges as the highest year on record in terms of approval of new construction. The group said that according to official figures, since January, more than 13,000 housing units were advanced in the settlements. For comparison, in the entire year of 2022, 4,427 housing units were advanced.
   
The move is expected to further escalate tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. The settlements are located in the West Bank, a territory seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. Despite facing international criticism, Israel has maintained control over the area. The Palestinians and most of the international community consider the expansion of the settlements as a major hurdle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem.
(XHTV)