Israel legalises 19 new Jewish settlements in West Bank

Israel has granted legal status to 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli parliament has approved legislation to legalise 19 Jewish settlements.

The proposal was put forward by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.

The Palestinian Authority strongly condemned the decision, describing Israel’s latest move as a step towards the destruction of Palestine.

In an official statement, Palestinian authorities said the decision exposes Israel’s true intentions to consolidate annexation, institutionalised discrimination, and a system of complete control over Palestinian territories.