According to his figures, the West Bank settler population reached 435,159 as of Jan. 1, up 3.4 percent from 420,899 a year earlier. The settler population has grown 21.4 percent in the last five years. Based on recent growth patterns, he said the West Bank settler population could approach 500,000 by the time Trump leaves office. It is irreversible.”The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a future independent state. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the figures reflect an Israeli policy of building settlements to destroy the two-state solution.

Source: Washington Post February 19, 2018 18:29 UTC