Palestinian Land Day March. Photo courtesy Telesur
WEST BANK, March 31 (NNN-TELESUR) – Israel’s Broadcasting Authority reports that the government will likely approve the construction of 4,500 new settlements in the West Bank, authorities announced Friday ahead of the Palestinian Land Day, a commemorative celebration of Palestine’s anti-federal demonstration on March 30, 1976.
However, it is expected that the Israeli government will hold back on the approval until after the Knesset elections on April 9. The construction would include 4,500 new units in the occupied West Bank. Currently, more than 650,000 settlers live within 100 different settlements across the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The construction would include 4,500 new units in the occupied West Bank.
The settlements are considered illegal according to International law. However U.S. President Donald Trump’s election in 2016 and subsequent show of support has emboldened the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu administration and encouraged Israeli expansion within occupied territories.
Israeli forces Saturday killed two 17-year-old boys and wounded 207 others using live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters in the one-year anniversary of the weekly March of Return protests in Gaza.
Tamer Aby el-Khair was shot in the chest east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and died at the hospital, while Adham Amara, another teen, died after being shot in the face east of Gaza City, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
A third Palestinian was killed during an overnight demonstration ahead of the main protest.