Pakistan, May 29 -- JERUSALEM - The Israeli government has approved the construction of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, further heightening tensions in the region. The announcement came on Thursday from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right figure in Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition.

Smotrich posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the new settlements will be established in the northern West Bank. However, he did not provide specific locations. According to Israeli media reports, the plan includes legalising previously unauthorised outposts and developing brand-new settlements.

Currently, nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, surrounded by approximately 2.7 million Palest...