Deeply troubling

Israel plans major settlement push across occupied West Bank

JERUSALEM: Israel’s hard-line finance minister announced on Wednesday a major expansion by more ​than 2,000 homes of three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank that Palestinians hope will be part of a future independent state. Most nations consider Israeli settlements there to be illegal under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution for long-term peace.Bezalel Smotrich, who holds authority over parts of Israel’s civilian administration in the West Bank, said a planning committee approved the construction of 2,162 new Jewish homes.