Israeli authorities have approved the construction of approximately 3,500 apartments in the occupied West Bank. This is said to be a response to a Palestinian terrorist attack on a highway near Jerusalem about two weeks ago. The settlements are illegal under international law.
At least one Israeli was killed and several people were injured, some seriously, according to paramedics. According to Israeli intelligence, the perpetrators killed in the attack were Palestinians. Israel’s right-wing finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, subsequently called for the construction of more than 3,000 additional apartments in the occupied West Bank. Now the responsible authority has actually approved 3,476 new housing units, reported the newspaper “Haaretz.”
“Path to Our Destruction”
Criticism of the project came from, among others, the Israeli human rights organization Peace Now on Platform Since the right-wing government came to power in late 2022, more new Israeli housing has reportedly been approved than at any time since 2012.
You can view Peace Now’s tweet here.
In 1967, the Israeli army conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 7,000 settlers now live among approximately three million Palestinians. The Palestinian people are calling for the areas to become their own state, with East Jerusalem as the capital.
Obstacle to a peace solution?
The United Nations views the settlements as a major obstacle to a peace settlement, because they offer little room for contiguous territory in a possible two-state solution. At the end of 2016, the UN Security Council called on Israel to completely halt settlements in the occupied territories.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
