Times of #Israel: #Netanyahu hands Smotrich full authority to expand existing settlements
— "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government passed a controversial resolution Sunday that gives practically all control over planning approval for construction in #WestBank #settlements to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an #ultranationalist advocate of settlements.
The decision approved at Sunday morning’s cabinet meeting, which takes immediate effect, also dramatically expedites and eases the process for expanding existing West Bank settlements and retroactively legalizing some illegal outposts.
The resolution was warmly welcomed by settlement leaders for the expected boost to settlement construction it is likely to create."