Israel advances plan for 'apartheid road' in West Bank

JERUSALEM

Israel on Monday greenlighted planning for a road that would separate Palestinian communities from a Jewish-only settlement northeast of Jerusalem, effectively making it an "apartheid road."

The so-called “sovereignty road” is meant to help spur a controversial settlement plan in the West Bank known as E1.

“We are giving a green light to the ‘sovereignty road’ today” to connect Jerusalem and the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement, said Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennet.

“The project will improve the quality of life of the residents of the area and prevent unnecessary friction with the Palestinian population,” he added.

Bennet added that the