Thousands of new West Bank settlement units to be approved: Smotrich

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
23 Feb 2024 01:19

Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says a committee will approve the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Knesset, on July 10, 2023. (AP Photo)

For the first time since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that the committee responsible for approving settlement construction in the occupied West Bank will convene in the near future, Israeli media reported.

Earlier, Smotrich called for the construction of thousands of new settlement units in response to the shooting operation near the "Ma’ale Adumim" settlement. One Israeli settler was killed and eight others were injured in a shooting operation in "Ma'ale Adumim", according to Magen David Adom (the Red Star of David).

In a statement released by Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Israeli Security Ministry, it was confirmed that the committee will grant approval for the construction of 2,350 units in "Ma’ale Adumim", 300 in "Keidar", and 694 in "Efrat".

This comes following discussions on the matter between Smotrich, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

It is noteworthy that the international community, including "Israel's" biggest ally the United States, as well as the European Union, considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of an occupying power's population into the territory it occupies.

In late February 2023, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underlined that Israeli-built settlements are "illegal" and they "must stop".

The United Nations Security Council has passed several resolutions condemning the construction of Israeli settlements and affirming their illegality.

In early January, a New York Times report revealed, citing the Israeli Peace Now NGO, that Israeli settlers are taking advantage of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip to carry out a surge of "unauthorized moves" to expand the occupation of the West Bank.