The 3,500 illegal housing units in the occupied West Bank add to the nearly 20,000 approved last year.
Israel’s plan to build thousands of new housing units in the occupied West Bank is widely condemned by several countries, including some of Tel Aviv’s most loyal allies.
The country’s settlement planning authority on Wednesday authorized the construction of nearly 3,500 new illegal housing units in the occupied Palestinian territories, the first such approval since Israel’s war on Gaza began on July 7. October last year.
Israeli settlements have long been viewed by the international community as a violation of international law and an obstacle to the creation of a Palestinian state. Authorities say the latest construction, planned in Maale Adumim, Kedar and Efrat, is in retaliation for a February shooting targeting illegal settlers.
“The enemies are trying to harm us and weaken us, but we will continue to build and build on this land,” far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in charge of civil affairs in the West Bank, said on X .
Smotrich said these constructions are in addition to the 18,515 housing units in illegal settlements approved last year.
The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry has called the settlements illegal and illegitimate, adding that they “constitute a call for the continuation of the cycle of violence.”
“The ministry calls for swift international sanctions that would deter Israel from building more settlements and that would include (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir and Smotrich as well as any other Israeli officials who play a role in deepening and financing illegal settlements,” he added. the ministry said in a statement.
Global condemnation
Hamas, the group that rules the Gaza Strip, called Israel’s decision “a confirmation of the Zionist plan to control our land, restrict our people and isolate them.”
“We affirm that this false statement has no legal or legal basis and is nothing more than a message of defiance and recklessness,” the group said in a statement, calling on the United Nations to take action ” punitive measures against this criminal entity and its Nazi leaders.” leaders”.
Hamas also warned “against remaining silent on violations (by Israel) that increase tensions and escalation in the region.”
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said the settlements were unilateral and illegal measures that violate international law and undermine peace efforts and the creation of a Palestinian state.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also “condemned in the strongest terms” the approval, stressing that such measures “pose a serious threat to international efforts to implement the two-state solution and hinder the resumption of the process.” of peace,” according to official media. .
Likewise, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that it was necessary to “give hope to the Palestinian people, enable them to obtain their right to live in security and establish their Palestinian state within the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as capital.” in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international resolution.”
Further afield, in Europe, Germany has called on Israel to withdraw its plans, adding that they constitute “a serious violation of international law”.
“We strongly condemn the approval of new settlement units in the West Bank,” the Federal Foreign Office said in a statement.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the plans were “illegal, disappointing and counterproductive to achieving lasting peace.”
“Our administration maintains strong opposition to settlement expansion,” Blinken said at a news conference in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires last week.
“In our view, this only weakens, not strengthens, Israel’s security,” he added, although he made no mention of the tangible consequences Israel could face in the event of a expansion of colonies.