New Israeli settlement to split East Jerusalem from occupied West Bank

WorldPolitics
14 Aug 2025 • 5:24 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has approved plans for a new settlement intended to separate East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank.
  • Mr Smotrich's office said the plan aims to "bury the idea of a Palestinian state", a move previously frozen since 2012 due to international objections.
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his call for the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza, a concept critics equate to ethnic cleansing.
  • Despite efforts to revive ceasefire talks, Mr Netanyahu's office confirmed Israel has no plans to send a negotiating team to Cairo.
  • Meanwhile, Israeli gunfire has killed at least 25 people seeking aid in Gaza, according to health officials and witnesses.

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