Israel's West Bank settler population grew nearly 3%. Supporters say Gaza war could give new push

Source: Associated Press

Israel’s West Bank settler population grew nearly 3%. Supporters say Gaza war could give new push

BY JULIA FRANKEL
Updated 3:51 PM EST, February 11, 2024

JERUSALEM (AP) — The population of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank grew nearly 3% in 2023, according to a new report based on population statistics from the Israeli government.

The report, released Sunday by the pro-settler group WestBankJewishPopulationStats.com, found the settler population jumped to 517,407 as of Dec. 31, from 502,991 a year earlier.

The settler population has grown over 15% in the last five years, the report said. Last year, it passed the half-million mark, a major threshold.

This year’s report predicted “accelerated growth” in the coming years, claiming the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which triggered the current war in Gaza, persuaded many Israelis who were formerly opposed to settlement-building on occupied land to change positions.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-settlements-west-bank-13df6cdc0244e7dea2b48d5d6d37eb19