Israeli government mulling huge funding to expand West Bank settlement: NGO

The proposal, if passed, would mark one of the largest expansions of illegal Israeli settlements in decades.The Israeli government has allocated a first tranche of an expected $388m in new funds for the construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank.The anti-settlement group Peace Now reported on Thursday that the government had allocated 152 million shekels ($51m) to prepare construction plans for 69 illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3West Bank ethnic cleansing, settler attacks Israel’s state policy: Amnestylist 2 of 3UK, Australia, Canada launch $4m peace fund for Israel-Palestine conflictlist 3 of 3Sanctions on settlers not enough: Target Israeli gov’t, say campaignersend of listThe cabinet later reportedly postponed a decision about a 1-billion-shekel ($338m) allocation. That proposal, if passed, would mark one of the largest expansions of illegal Israeli settlements in decades.“The government decided to postpone the decision [on the 1-billion-shekel allocation] and refer it to the Security Cabinet which is expected to convene on Sunday,” Peace Now wrote.Under the yet-to-be-approved plan, construction for the settlements, including infrastructure and public buildings, would begin despite necessary planning protocols not having been carried out in accord with Israeli law.Peace Now accused the government of intending to bypass planning and construction regulations.“October 7 proved that the right-wing approach has failed: the conflict cannot be ‘managed,’ and the Palestinians cannot be ‘defeated’,” the group said in a statement.“Israel must reach a political solution and diplomatic agreement, but instead the government is only sinking us deeper into the mire and condemning us to many more years of bloody conflict.”Israel has come under growing condemnation for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.