Israel is to authorize thousands of the settler homes built illegally in the occupied West Bank, some of them decades ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, reports Reuters.
The move is likely to please pro-settler members of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition while angering Palestinians, who want the West Bank as part of a future state.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement:
“Arranging the rights for the homes allows thousands of residents to be provided with infrastructure of public buildings, educational and religious buildings.”
If anyone needed proof that Netanyahu isn't interested in peace with Palestinians, yesterday decision to enable more illegal settlements on Palestinian land, is a further proof. Netanyahu prepares for elections and need the settlers votes.https://t.co/PAN6BfLPY6
— Tal Ofer טל עופר تل عوفر (@TalOfer) December 14, 2018
It did not give a specific number of homes but Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked tweeted that more than 2,000 homes would be getting permits.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas that are also home to more than 2.6 million Palestinians.
Settlements are one of the most heated issues in efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, frozen since 2014.
Emboldened by Trump's unconditional support, Netanyahu announces that settlements in the WB and EJ, despite being illegal under International Law, will never be dismantled. https://t.co/RhjMhlr5q3
— Suzy S (@PalestinePR) December 12, 2018
In August, an Israeli court broke new ground, and infuriated Palestinians, by giving legal recognition to the Jewish outpost of Mitzpe Kramim, built without government authorization privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Palestinians want the West Bank for a future state, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Most countries consider all settlements that Israel has built in territory it captured in the 1967 Middle East war to be illegal. Israel disputes this and says their future should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians.
Netanyahu vows to expand settlements in response to attacks https://t.co/OCIeqxYhYS#GroupPalestine #قروب_فلسطيني pic.twitter.com/A0DSBmHwC2
— Israel Collapse (@countdown2040) December 14, 2018
Netanyahu also said he would try to advance plans for 82 new housing units in the Jewish settlement of Ofra and two West Bank industrial zones.
Netanyahu last month faced a challenge from the far-right after his defense minister resigned and lashed out at the government’s acceptance of a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid a surge in Gaza violence. Other far-right ministers had threatened to quit but later backed down.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
I am horrified and appalled that Israel is allowed with impunity to carry on their bloodthirsty campaign of apartheid violence and theft of Palestinian land. Where are the international watchdogs representing right-thinking people in the world community of justice? Are all of the good-thinking and acting majority of billions of our world population without recourse in places like the Hague and the United Nations? It’s tragic and deplorable that a war criminal like Benjamin Netanyahu is allowed to pillage and bully Palestinians and steal their land.