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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israel backs West Bank homes for settlers and Palestinians | Israel backs West Bank homes for settlers and Palestinians |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Israel has approved the construction of 6,000 new homes for Jewish settlers and 700 homes for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. | Israel has approved the construction of 6,000 new homes for Jewish settlers and 700 homes for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. |
| The decision about new homes in settlements further extends the Israeli presence in the West Bank. | The decision about new homes in settlements further extends the Israeli presence in the West Bank. |
| But it is Israel's approval for Palestinian homes that is unusual. | But it is Israel's approval for Palestinian homes that is unusual. |
| Israeli settlements in the West Bank are seen as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. | Israeli settlements in the West Bank are seen as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. |
| It is not clear whether the Palestinian homes would be new constructions or merely legal approval for 700 already existing homes in what is known as "Area C" of the West Bank - where Palestinian villages often lie close to Israeli settlements, and where Israel has full control of the territory. | It is not clear whether the Palestinian homes would be new constructions or merely legal approval for 700 already existing homes in what is known as "Area C" of the West Bank - where Palestinian villages often lie close to Israeli settlements, and where Israel has full control of the territory. |
| The Palestinian leadership dismissed the announcement, saying it rejected any Israeli construction or controls over Palestinian construction in the West Bank. | The Palestinian leadership dismissed the announcement, saying it rejected any Israeli construction or controls over Palestinian construction in the West Bank. |
| It said it was "evidence of the dark colonial mentality of the rules in Israel and which ignores all United Nations resolutions, international law and the signed agreements". | It said it was "evidence of the dark colonial mentality of the rules in Israel and which ignores all United Nations resolutions, international law and the signed agreements". |
| Why now? | Why now? |
| The move comes ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who heads the White House's faltering attempts to broker a peace deal. | |
| There is speculation in Israeli media that the announcement on homes is designed to help him bring Arab countries to a possible summit in the US. | There is speculation in Israeli media that the announcement on homes is designed to help him bring Arab countries to a possible summit in the US. |
| The Trump administration has carried out a series of actions that have inflamed Palestinian opinion and generally pleased Israel. | The Trump administration has carried out a series of actions that have inflamed Palestinian opinion and generally pleased Israel. |
| In 2017 Mr Trump announced that the US recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, overturning decades of official US policy. | In 2017 Mr Trump announced that the US recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, overturning decades of official US policy. |
| Last year the US stopped contributing to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which has been supporting Palestinian refugees since 1949. | Last year the US stopped contributing to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which has been supporting Palestinian refugees since 1949. |
| In March President Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. | In March President Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. |
| Mr Kushner was in Jordan on Wednesday and is due to go to Israel next as part of a Middle East tour to drum up support for a proposed US peace deal. | |
| Why are settlements such an issue? | Why are settlements such an issue? |
| Israel has settled about 400,000 Jews in West Bank settlements, with another 200,000 living in East Jerusalem. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. | Israel has settled about 400,000 Jews in West Bank settlements, with another 200,000 living in East Jerusalem. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. |
| Palestinians want to establish a state in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. | Palestinians want to establish a state in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. |
| What happens to the settlements is one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians - Palestinians say the presence of settlements makes a future independent state impossible. | What happens to the settlements is one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians - Palestinians say the presence of settlements makes a future independent state impossible. |
| Israel says the Palestinians are using the issue of settlements as a pretext to avoid direct peace talks. It says settlements are not a genuine obstacle to peace and are negotiable. | Israel says the Palestinians are using the issue of settlements as a pretext to avoid direct peace talks. It says settlements are not a genuine obstacle to peace and are negotiable. |
| Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since 2014, when a US-brokered attempt to reach a deal collapsed. | Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since 2014, when a US-brokered attempt to reach a deal collapsed. |