Israel announces West Bank settlement that ‘could imperil Palestinian state’

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich arrives for a press conference about a new settlement construction in the Israel-occupied West Bank near Maale Adumim (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israel’s far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Palestinians and rights groups worry the move will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts.