Post by Global Reporters

Israeli ministers have announced a major new settlement expansion plan covering Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed plans to establish three “Nahal” outposts in northern Gaza, a military-community model that has historically served as a precursor to permanent civilian settlements. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich separately announced 1.3 billion shekels, or more than $400 million, in funding for dozens of new settlements across the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reported that the cabinet approved the funding last month but kept the decision quiet to avoid immediate diplomatic blowback from the United States. The announcement comes as Netanyahu’s coalition moves toward national elections scheduled for October 27, with settlement policy again becoming central to Israel’s domestic and international political confrontation. Can Israel’s settlement expansion continue without triggering a deeper rupture with Washington and European partners? Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/d4dsePq8