"Israeli settler population increased by a quarter in 5 years"

An Israeli settler leader says the number of Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank has increased by nearly one-quarter over the past five years.

Yaakov Katz, citing data from the Interior Ministry, put the total number of settlers living in the West Bank at over 420000. The settler leader added that the situation was unchangeable and the number was growing. Katz added that the hike in number of settlers ended the so-called two-state solution. The number does not include settlement construction in East Jerusalem al-Quds, where more than 200000 Israeli settlers live. Tel Aviv has increased settlement activity since the new US administration took office. This comes despite a United Nations Security Council Resolution demanding that Israel halt all settlement activities. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.