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November 13, 2013

Israel Freezes E1 Settlement Construction, OKs 20,000 New West Bank Homes 
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The Israeli government has frozen one of its most controversial
settlement projects, while simultaneously expanding another in the
occupied West Bank. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu announced he is suspending building in the area known as "E1,"
which cuts off the northern West Bank from the south as well as from
East Jerusalem. Its completion would bisect the West Bank and ensure the
failure of forming a Palestinian state. Israel resumed E1 construction
last year after the United Nations recognized Palestine's status as an
observer state. Israeli officials say they have frozen E1 to reduce
tensions with the Obama administration amidst their push to block a
nuclear agreement with Iran. But as it suspended building in E1, Israel
announced plans to build some 20,000 new settlement homes on Palestinian
land in the West Bank. In response, the Palestinian Authority said it
would end involvement in peace talks if the new plans go through.

 

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