A potential donation to a medical project in an Israeli settlement would not cross any red lines, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said, despite criticism from rights groups.

For Palestinians, settlements represent land taken from them and a major obstacle to peace. Israel denies that, arguing instead that a presence in the West Bank is vital for national security. “There’s just 7 km between Kfar Saba and Qalqilya,” said Ben Zion. “We can’t allow anyone to build a terror state in the middle of Israel.”

Israel’s parliament called for the annexation of all Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a non-binding resolution that still comes as a rejection of international efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood as part of peacekeeping efforts.

A letter from 29 senators raises concerns about Americans killed in the West Bank, where Trump has lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers.

Knesset lawmakers vote 71-13 in favour of annexation, raising questions about the future of a Palestinian state.

According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, Transport Minister Miri Regev and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved the additional budget of 918 million shekels ($274.6 million) Wednesday night for infrastructure projects and road rehabilitation to connect West Bank settlements with each other and Israeli cities.

JERUSALEM — Israel said Thursday it would establish 22 more Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalization of outposts already built without government authorization.