Israel Approves 2,160+ New Settlement Units in West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved over 2,100 housing units in West Bank settlements Wednesday, including 1,000 in a new settlement near Jerusalem. The decision, made in areas where Israel has civilian control, will deepen tensions with the EU and UN, which view settlements as breaches of international law. Construction typically takes 18 to 36 months.