Israel has cleared the final hurdle to begin construction on the E1 settlement project near Jerusalem that would split the occupied West Bank in two. The project has been under consideration for more than two decades but had been put on hold due to U.S. pressure. Meanwhile, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank faced apartheid. It’s the first time a U.N. human rights chief has used the term.

Volker Türk: “Whether accessing water, school, rushing to hospital, visiting family or friends, harvesting olives, every aspect of life for Palestinians in the West Bank is controlled and curtailed by Israel’s discriminatory laws, policies and practices. Israel is violating international law requiring states to prohibit and eradicate racial segregation and apartheid.”