What's happened
Israel continues to declare more West Bank land as state-owned for settlement development, with recent announcements including the Herodium archaeological site and the Ahiya outpost being appended to the Shiloh settlement.
Why it matters
The ongoing declarations of state land in the West Bank by Israel, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have significant implications for settlement expansion and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing international attention and condemnation.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports on the declarations of state land in the West Bank, highlighting the government's efforts to advance settlement development. Al Jazeera and The Independent provide additional perspectives on the impact of these declarations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international relations.
How we got here
The Israeli government's policy of declaring state land in the West Bank for settlement development has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing it undermines prospects for a two-state solution and violates international law.
Common question
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Why did Israel declare 1,976 acres in the West Bank as state land?
Israel's recent declaration of 1,976 acres in the West Bank as state land for settlement building has sparked international attention. This move comes amidst a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has expressed concerns over military actions in Rafah. Let's delve into the details of this declaration and its implications.
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Why did Israel declare 800 hectares in the West Bank as state land?
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More on these topics
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The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered by Jordan to the east and by Israel to the south, west and north. The West Bank also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Bezalel Yoel Smotrich is an Israeli politician. The leader of Tkuma, he is currently a member of the Knesset for the Yamina alliance.
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Antony John Blinken is an American government official who served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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The Civil Administration is the Israeli governing body that operates in the West Bank. It was established by the government of Israel in 1981, in order to carry out practical bureaucratic functions within the territories captured by Israel in 1967.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Jordan Valley forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. Unlike most other river valleys, the term "Jordan Valley" often applies just to the lower course of the Jordan River, from the spot where it exits the Sea of Galilee in the north, to the end o