Israel appropriates large tract of West Bank

Israel has appropriated 400 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank in the biggest such move in 30 years. The takeover of land belonging to five Palestinian villages clears the way for construction of a new settlement, Gvaot, but has drawn Palestinian condemnation and a U.S. rebuke

1949 Armistice Line (Green Line)

Jerusalem municipal area

Israeli settlements

GivÕat ZeÕev Bloc

ISRAEL

Land claimed: Move seen as latest of series of plans designed to attach Etzion settlement bloc to Jerusalem and environs

Gush Etzion Bloc

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Route of West Bank barrier (Constructed / Planned)

Palestinian built-up areas

ÒSettlement BlocsÓ

WEST BANK

Ramallah

MaÕale Adumim Bloc

Old City

EAST JERUSALEM

WEST JERUSALEM

4km

2.5 miles

Bethlehem

Alon Shvut

Around 500,000 Israelis live among 2.4 million Palestinians in West Bank
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LEBANON

Detail area

GAZA

JORDAN

EGYPT

ISRAEL

WEST BANK
Sources: UNOCHA, Peace Now, Haaretz © GRAPHIC NEWS

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