Beitar Illit pops up now because US consular services reopened in the West Bank amid Gaza aid group tensions; it’s a fast-growing Israeli settlement city in Gush Etzion. Population ~60k.
On February 27, 2026, the US Embassy in Jerusalem began providing passport services in Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time consular services were offered in an Israeli settlement. The move has sparked controversy, with Israeli officials welcoming it as legitimizing settlements, while Palestinians and international actors condemn it as violating international law.