Knesset legalises West Bank outposts on private Palestinian land
Tel Aviv — Israel’s parliament legalised unauthorised West Bank settlement outposts built on private Palestinian land, drawing international censure and setting up a court fight where the politically charged law may be overturned. Palestinians saw another attempt to crush their dream of independence, as the act of bringing the bill to a vote drove the two sides apart. The European Union postponed a February 28 meeting with Israel meant to signify improved relations, the Haaretz newspaper reported, and Jordan, traditionally a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, denounced the new law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tried to delay a vote until his White House meeting with President Donald Trump next week. But he allowed it go through under pressure from pro-settlement forces in his government, in part because he knows the high court will strike it down, according to an Israeli official close to the prime minister. The High Court did rule later on Tuesday that 17 carava...
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