Israel allocates billions of shekels to expand settlements in West Bank

The Israeli regime plans to allocate billions of shekels to develop settlements in the occupied West Bank, defying international calls to end the theft of Palestinian land. Israel's Channel 7 reported that Israeli far-right executive finance minister Bezalel Smotrich had reached a consensus with Transport Minister Miri Regev on allocating about NIS 4 billion to improve the infrastructure of the settlements. The Israeli transport ministry, the report adds, is expected to allocate NIS 160 million for the development of roads connecting West Bank settlements. The plan covers the road between Ariel and Taffouh settlement, along with those connecting settlements near the Palestinian cities of Nablus, Salfit and Qalqilya, as well as the eastern al-Quds neighborhood of Isawiya. The regime Tel Aviv has stepped up its settlement expansion activities since last December, when Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power as prime minister of the regime's far-right cabinet.