Knesset passes law to encourage illegal settlements in the West Bank

The Knesset (Israeli parliament) has passed a law offering tax breaks on donations to NGOs which encourage illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The new law was endorsed by 33 member of the Knesset and opposed by 11 Knesset. It will offer tax exemptions up to 35 per cent of donations made to pro-settler organisations.

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Coalition chairman, Ze’ev Elkin of the ruling Likud Party and himself a settler, sponsored the law in order to encourage Jewish settlement in the West Bank, whether through establishing new settlements or expanding existing blocs. All settlements are regarded as illegal in international law.