Israel begins construction of new settlement in occupied West Bank

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday confirmed the construction of new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli PM tweeted a photograph of a bulldozer beginning work on the settlement, known as Amichai.

“Today, ground works began, as I promised, for the establishment of the new community for the residents of Amona,” Netanyahu announced.

“After decades, I have the privilege to be the Prime Minister who is building a new community in [the West Bank],” he stated.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the settlement was a “grave escalation” of peace efforts between the conflicting sides.

Rudeina added the construction would “foil efforts” by the administration of US President Donald Trump to renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Trump has reaffirmed he views Israeli settlement expansion as counterproductive for a peace deal with Palestinians.

“Every time you take land for a settlement, less territory remains,” he previously said.

The construction of the new settlement in the occupied West Bank is the first for over 20 years.

It will accommodate nearly 40 families who had their homes cleared from the unauthorized settler outpost of Amona, the BBC reported.

The area was evacuated by police in early February after an Israeli Supreme Court ordered the dismantling of the outpost which was built on private Palestinian land.

Over 600,000 Jews live in nearly 140 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967.

The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel rejects those claims.