Jerusalem: Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has reportedly approved an expansion of the West Bank Etzion settlement bloc south of Jerusalem to include a compound Israelis hope to turn into a new settlement, the Israeli daily (Haaretz) reported.
Ya'alon okayed construction that will allow for the creation of a new settlement on the plot, which formerly housed a Christian-run hospital, in June, the daily Ha'aretz reported Wednesday. The decision to approve construction on the plot was made in recent weeks, the report said.
The plot is located across from the al-Aroub refugee camp on Route 60, between the Etzion settlement bloc and Hebron.
QNA
