Israel to fund 61 new West Bank settlements

Israel plans to allocate more than $350 million to establish 61 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to a government directive reviewed by journalist Barak Ravid. The funding will cover temporary housing complexes and public infrastructure, marking one of the most extensive expansion moves in recent decades.

The proposal comes as the European Union has recently imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations it says violated Palestinian rights linked to settlement activity. Palestinian authorities view the plan as further entrenching Israeli control over the territories.