Israel plans to approve the construction of more than 3,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a senior Cabinet minister from the far-right wing of the government announced.
Quick Read
- Israel plans to approve over 3,300 new homes in West Bank settlements, announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right government member.
- The decision is likely to provoke criticism from the U.S., amid strained relations due to differences over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
- The new construction, a response to a Palestinian shooting near Jerusalem, involves settlements like Maale Adumim, Efrat, and Kedar.
- Israeli settlement expansion in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories Palestinians claim for a future state, has increased under Netanyahu’s right-wing government, featuring settler representatives like Smotrich.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel aims to build 3,300 new houses in occupied West Bank settlements
Newslooks- JERUSALEM — (AP)
Israel plans to approve the construction of more than 3,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a senior Cabinet minister from the far-right wing of the government announced.
Approval of new construction is bound to elicit condemnation from the United States at a time when the relationship between the allies is fraught because of disagreements over the course of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a statement late Thursday that the new construction is meant as a response to a fatal Palestinian shooting attack near Jerusalem earlier in the day. He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant participated in the discussion leading to the decision.
The homes are to be built in the settlements of Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar, Smotrich said.
Consecutive Israeli governments have expanded settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank — war-won territories the Palestinians seek for a future state. Construction has accelerated under Netanyahu’s current right-wing government, which includes settlers such as Smotrich in key positions.
Currently:
— Mideast cease-fire efforts gain steam as a U.S. envoy visits. Mediators report ‘encouraging’ signs.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
