West Bank & Jerusalem
Israel merges settler outposts near Jerusalem, advancing West Bank fragmentation
Image credit: Mondoweiss
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Israel has merged two settler outposts near Jerusalem, incorporating an illegal settlement into a planned city situated between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Mondoweiss reported. The expansion of Mishmar Yehuda furthers Israel's longstanding strategy to bisect the West Bank, according to the outlet.
The move came days after the UK and European Union imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements. The merger consolidates territorial control in a strategically significant corridor, advancing what observers describe as a decades-long plan to fragment Palestinian territory in the West Bank.
