Israel approves West Bank policy to expand settlements, deepen control

The Israeli security cabinet has approved new policies for the occupied West Bank designed to expand settlements and deepen Israeli control. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated the decisions will remove legal barriers, repeal Jordanian legislation, and allow for accelerated settlement development. The policy changes include transferring authority over building permits in Hebron from the Palestinian Authority to Israel and expanding Israeli oversight over water and archaeological sites. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the move as an attempt to annex the West Bank and a violation of international law and past agreements.