Israel defies Biden and will build more than 1,300 houses in the West Bank

Israel defies Biden and will build more than 1,300 houses in the West Bank

Last week, the Israeli press reported that the Prime Minister’s government Naftali Bennet it was preparing to authorize the construction of up to 3,000 houses in colonies in the West Bank, further complicating the creation of a future Palestinian state.

The Biden government expressed its concern two days ago at these reports.

Some 700,000 settlers reside in settlements in the West Bank, where 2.8 million Palestinians also live.

“Strengthening the Jewish presence (in the West Bank) is essential in the Zionist vision,” said Israeli Construction Minister Zeev Elkin, a member of the right-wing nationalist New Hope party.

Last Friday, the US State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said that the Biden administration was “concerned” by these expansion plans for the colonization of the West Bank.

“We believe that it is essential that Israel and the Palestinian Authority refrain from taking unilateral measures, and this includes settlement activity, as well as retroactive legalization of advanced settlements, “Price said.

In recent years, the colonization of the West Bank accelerated as never before under the leadership of the former Israeli prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu.

His successor, Bennett, has led since mid-June a heterogeneous coalition ranging from the radical right to the left-wing parties, such as Meretz.

In fact, Meretz MP Mossi Rai regretted the announcement and that Bennett shows that he is “ten degrees to the right of the previous government.” The NGO Paz Now had also expressed its opposition to the tenders.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem in a war against Arab countries in 1967, and all of its governments have colonized those areas ever since. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

Palestinians view Israeli settlements as the central obstacle to peace with Israel, and according to international law they are illegal.

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