Israel to approve new funds for illegal settlement expansion in West Bank

Israel to approve new funds for illegal settlement expansion in West Bank Israel is expected to approve on Thursday the allocation of 1 billion shekels ($337. 8 million) to build new settlements and connect them to infrastructure in the occupied West Bank, Israeli rights group Peace Now said. The plan is being promoted by Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of Israeli illegal settlement expansion who has said he wants to bury the idea of Palestinian statehood.