Israeli government legalises illegal West Bank settlement

The Israeli government on Saturday legalised an illegal settlement despite a High Court ruling that it should be evacuated by the end of the year, local media reported.

During a meeting with ministers, the country’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit decided that there is no legal issue regarding the retention of the illegal settlement of Amona, located near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

They ruled that the settlement, which is being built on Palestinian land, should be moved to an adjacent plot which Israel claims under the Absentee Property Law.

Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev said: “Amona must remain in its place and we must develop and promote it.”

However, Zahava Gal-On, the head of the Meretz party, criticised the move, saying: “This is the first time that Israel approves a settlement on Palestinian land in opposition to the ruling of the High Court.”