Israeli Minister’s Plan for West Bank Sparks Outrage

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has unveiled a controversial plan to divide the West Bank from East Jerusalem, a move his office claims would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state. The plan, which includes building thousands of homes for settlers, has drawn sharp condemnation from the Palestinian government, the United Nations, European nations, and human rights groups, who say it violates international law and threatens any chance for a two-state solution. While Palestinians warn it could permanently block their hopes for independence, Israel maintains the area is “disputed” and not “occupied.”