Palestinians fear an increase in settlement projects in Jerusalem and the West Bank amid a fierce election rally among Israeli right-wing leaders.
Palestine Liberation Organization National Bureau for Defending Land has revealed in its report on Saturday that the year 2020 was the toughest on Palestinians in terms of the settlement activity and the terrorist practices of settlers.
It also highlighted that settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, doubled during the term of US President Donald Trump, in comparison with the term of Barack Obama.
During the first three years of Trump’s term, Netanyahu’s government approved the construction of around 7,000 residential units annually – however, Obama’s term only saw the approval to construct 3,600 residential units.
The report also warned of the Knesset’s bill, which passed the preliminary reading, and would legalize dozens of settlement outposts. The Israeli High Council of Planning and Building approved the construction of 6,500 settlement units in the West Bank, the report added, whereas the Jerusalem Municipality approved the construction of 8,600 settlement units.
Despite the political crisis in Israel, the settlements' expansion project did not stop.
In this regard, the Settlement Affairs Ministry published on Thursday criteria for regional councils in the West Bank to apply for financial support to buy drones and establish and operate patrol units that will monitor Palestinian construction in the West Bank's Area C, which is under full Israeli control.
According to the guidelines, the councils will receive funds to pay the salaries of field inspectors, buy vehicles, drones, and electronic monitoring equipment, as well as for fencing and aerial photography.
