Netanyahu moves to legalise West Bank settlements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the formation of a legal panel to examine ways to legalise settlement-outposts in the Occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Media reports in Israel say that Justice Minister Yaakov Neema will set up a task force consisting of a number of legal experts to explore the possibility of legalising those settlements in the West Bank and various parts of occupied Jerusalem which are not at present recognised by the Israeli government.

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According to Haaretz Netanyahu’s move “was a result of significant pressure” from settlers and a number of ministers within his own Likud Party. One Israeli politician told the newspaper that the task force could “provide a pretext” for postponing the demolition of the settlements which are considered illegal under Israeli law.

All Israeli settlements are considered by international law to be illegal, whereas Israel recognises some and not others.