Israel has given final approval for a controversial settlement project that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two.

The long-stalled project near Jerusalem, known as E1, further fragments lands envisioned as a Palestinian state, advancing a goal of Israeli hard-liners.

Construction in E1 is expected to begin immediately, while Ashahel’s plan reaches the deposit stage, a key step toward final approval. Israel’s Civil Administration approved major construction projects in West Bank,