Israel on Wednesday gave final approval for a long-disputed settlement project in the occupied West Bank, a move that Palestinians and rights groups warn could split the territory in two and deal a devastating blow to prospects for a future Palestinian state.

Israel gave final approval for a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank that would effectively cut the territory in two, and that Palestinians and rights groups say could destroy plans for a future Palestinian state.

E1 project aims to split West Bank into 2 parts, cutting off northern cities of Ramallah and Nablus from Bethlehem and Hebron in south - Anadolu Ajansı