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Israel announces West Bank settlement that rights groups say could imperil Palestinian state

Israel’s far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks to journalists during a press conference about new settlement construction in the Israel-occupied West Bank near Maale Adumim, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks to journalists during a press conference about new settlement construction in the Israel-occupied West Bank near Maale Adumim, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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Aug 14, 2025
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MAALE ADUMIM, Israel (AP) — Israel’s far-right finance minister announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts.

The announcement comes as many countries said they would recognize a Palestinian state in September.

“This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognize and no one to recognize,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “Anyone in the world who tries today to recognize a Palestinian state – will receive an answer from us on the ground,” he said.

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