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Final Countdown: Key Updates and Things to Know as U.S. Election Nears

  With just three days remaining until the U.S. presidential election, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is reaching its climax. Both candidates are making their final appeals to voters in key battleground states, aiming to sway undecided voters and solidify their support base. Latest Updates: 1. Polling Data: Recent polls indicate a tight race, with Harris holding a slight edge nationally but Trump leading in several key swing states. 2. Early Voting: Early voting numbers have reached unprecedented levels, with millions of Americans already casting their ballots. 3. Campaign Events: Harris and Trump are hosting dueling rallies in battleground states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, making their final pitches to voters. Key Things to Know: 1. Polling Accuracy: Confidence in polling has been shaken by past errors, but efforts are being made to improve accuracy. 3. Candidates' Stances: Harris and Trump have different approaches to key

Israel Approves New Parcel of West Bank Land for Settlement

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land. This move aims to facilitate the use of the ground for settlement building. The announcement comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite growing international opposition, the Israeli government remains determined to press ahead with settlement construction in the West Bank.

The designation of 1,976 acres of land in the Jordan Valley as state land follows a similar decision regarding 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank. The latter area is crucial to the Palestinians’ vision of a future independent state.

Last month, the United States stated that Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank was inconsistent with international law, aligning with the global consensus that considers these settlements illegal. Israel, however, disputes this view, citing historical and Biblical ties to the land. Meanwhile, the Palestinians view the expansion of settlements as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at undermining their aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this latest move, describing it as “a continuation of the extermination and displacement of our people from their homeland.”

Despite the controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration underscores the government’s commitment to settlement building in the West Bank. The situation remains highly contentious, with implications for regional stability and peace efforts.

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