Israel's finance minister has announced plans for a new settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, aiming to 'bury' the idea of a Palestinian state. The proposed settlement in E1, east of Jerusalem, would expand Maale Adumim with around 3,500 apartments, a move condemned by Palestinians and rights groups who say it would split the West Bank and undermine hopes for a two-state solution. The plan has not yet received final approval but could begin construction within a year if bureaucratic steps proceed quickly. International criticism has followed, with several countries threatening to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, and groups warning that the settlement would guarantee further conflict and bloodshed.