Israel to take several controversial moves expanding West Bank footprint in coming weeks

Channel 13 reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government will take a series of controversial steps in the coming weeks aimed at further expanding Israel’s footprint in the West Bank.

Tomorrow, authorities will designate 3,000 dunams (750 acres) of land near the Ma’ale Adumim settlement as “state land,” in a step that will allow for the further expansion of the settlement.

Next week, the Defense Ministry’s High Planning Subcommittee will convene to advance plans for over 3,000 new settlement homes in Ma’ale Adumim, Efrat and Keidar, as announced last week by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

On March 20, Israel will designate another 7,000 dunams (1,730 acres) of land in the Jordan Valley as “state land.”

Such designations are not recognized by the international community, which largely views the West Bank as occupied territory.