Israel Expands Jerusalem Borders into West Bank

Israeli NGOs have raised concerns over a government-signed settlement plan that would expand Israel===Jerusalem's borders into the occupied Palestine===West Bank for the first time since 1967. The plan, announced by the Israel===Ministry of Construction and Housing, involves building 2,780 housing units for the Geva Binyamin settlement with an investment of approximately 120 million Israeli shekels. Critics, including Peace Now and Ir Amim, argue that the development, located on the Israel===Jerusalem side of the separation barrier, effectively constitutes a de facto annexation of Palestinian territory by making the new neighborhood integral to Israel===Jerusalem. This move follows other measures by Israel to tighten control over the Palestine===West Bank, drawing international condemnation and raising fears of accelerating annexation, which could prevent Palestinian statehood.