Israeli settlement plan in West Bank stirs tensions ahead of Biden trip
US President Joe Biden's visit to the region occurs as Israel escalates military policies in the West Bank and unveils new settlement plans.
US President Joe Biden and outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Nafali Bennett had hoped for ‘calm’ ahead of Biden’s visit, but Israeli settlement plans may make that unrealistic. Reports of a new massive settlement project in the West Bank are proving controversial among Palestinians.
Israel Hayom newspaper revealed June 13 a settlement plan to build a national park covering around 1 million dunams (a dunam equals 1,000 square meters) between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea in the West Bank.
Although the Israeli government did not comment on the project, nor did it set a date to present the plan to competent authorities for approval, parts of the plan are already being implemented.
As per the plan, which would separate the northern West Bank from its south, nearly half of the land overlooking the Dead Sea would be seized. Mobile restaurants would be established in the park, in addition to a hotel at the northern end of the Dead Sea and a joint information and reservation center.
