Settlement construction drops to levels not seen since Obama building freeze

Settlement construction drops to levels not seen since Obama building freeze

Construction in Judea and Samaria has plunged to levels not seen since the Obama administration's building freeze, despite Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's unprecedented approval of tens of thousands of housing units and removal of longtime development barriers. Municipal authorities in Judea and Samaria are attempting to pressure settlements to begin new construction following massive permit approvals in recent years, but encounter significa…