West Bank [Palestine], December 7: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced the confiscation of 24,000 dunams (5,930 acres) of land in the occupied West Bank, declaring it "state land" with the aim of expanding several settlements in the area.
Palestinian sources report that Israel has confiscated nearly 50,000 dunams of Palestinian land since the Oslo Accords in 1993. This reported confiscation of 24,000 dunams represents a substantial escalation, equivalent to nearly half of the total land confiscated over the past 23 years.
The Hebrew Channel 14 stated that this step is expected to bring about a significant change in favor of strengthening Israel's control over the West Bank.
Source: Emirates News Agency
