Construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank surged 17 per cent during the first year of US President Donald trump’s presidency, Israeli monitoring group Peace Now has said.
According to data released by the group, Israel began construction of 2,783 settlement homes in 2017, 17 per cent more than the annual average since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office in 2009.
Peace Now: Illegal settler outpost building resumed with 16 new sites https://t.co/JrQ6DJMGkc
— Peace Now (@peacenowisrael) March 26, 2018
The vast majority of the new “homes” – 78 per cent – were in settlements which would likely have to be evacuated if a Palestinian state was established, Peace Now added.
Additionally, eight per cent were in illegal outposts which are not authorized by the state.
Trump has taken a softer line on Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank than his predecessors.
2017 Settlement Construction Report: higher than average building, mostly in isolated settlements, two-decade peak in tenders, three new outposts https://t.co/lfkfx5H3OJ
— Peace Now (@peacenowisrael) March 26, 2018
“The steady pace of construction and building deep in the West Bank attest to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s steadfast abetting of the settlement enterprise,” the report said.
“It is also apparent that the new US presidency in 2017 had no marginal deterrent effect on these Israeli unilateral moves.”
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
