Israel Approves Construction of First New Settlement in Decades

JERUSALEM, Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet has approved construction of a new settlement in biblical Judea and Samaria (West Bank) after the country's Supreme Court ordered the demolition of their hilltop community in February. 

Netanyahu said late Thursday the decision passed unanimously to replace the Amona settlement, honoring a promise he made to the 40 families who were left without homes. 
  
The settlement, which is the first one in nearly 25 years, will be built in the Shiloh Valley, close to the Palestinian Authority city of Ramallah in the West Bank.  
  
The settlement construction is expected to take place within the boundaries of an already existing community in a possible attempt to ward off backlash from the international community. 

Many argue that Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria are obstacles to peace, but Israel cites biblical, historical, as well as security for the construction. 

President Trump, who has publicly voiced his strong support for the Jewish state, asked Netanyahu to "hold back on settlements for a little bit."

The two leaders agreed to work out the details regarding construction in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu told cabinet ministers Thursday evening. 

Future construction, he said, would be within existing communities or adjacent to them.

"This is a very friendly administration and we need to be considerate of the president's requests," he told ministers, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported.