Israel expands illegal settlements in occupied West Bank_ pressure mounts on Palestinians

As Israel continues its siege on the Gaza Strip - it's also putting pressure on the Occupied West Bank, with increasing raids and expanding illegal settlements. The Israeli government has just approved 22 illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The UN says Israel demolished more than 1,700 Palestinian buildings and homes -- and seized 24 square kilometres of land last year. Palestinians need Israeli military permits to build any structure in sixty-one percent of the occupied West Bank - those are rarely approved.

Al Jazeera's Nida Ibrahim says the increase in illegal settlements is the largest in decades.

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