Israel’s Smotrich Embarks on Settlement Plan to ‘Bury’ Idea of Palestinian State
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that Israel would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state by dividing the West Bank and cut if off from East Jerusalem, according to Reuters.
Reviving Settlements
During his visit to Maale Adumim, Smotrich revealed that both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1 scheme, a long-delayed settlement.
“Whoever in the world is trying to recognize a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighborhoods,” Smotrich said.
In 2012, Israel halted construction plans in Maale Adumim and froze their revival again in 2020 due to opposition from the US, European allies, and other international powers who saw the project as a threat for a future peace agreement with the Palestinians.
However, Smotrich’s spokesperson said the minister officially approved the plan to build 3,401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Smotrich told Reuters that the plan would take effect on Wednesday, though he did not mention what measures would be exactly implemented on that day.
Palestinian & Arab Reactions
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the plan, labeling it as an extension of what it called crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation. Meanwhile, Israel has repeatedly dismissed such accusations, justifying that its actions are based on self-defense measures.
Hamas considered the plan as part of Israel’s “colonial, extremist” policies and urged Palestinians to confront it.
Moreover, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry denounced the move as a flagrant violation of international law.
Building Jewish State
In May, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israel planned to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the occupied West Bank, according to Al-Arabiya.
Katz’s remarks follow Israel’s announcement of the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land,” Katz said.
Katz also noted that the new settlements would be a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but Israel will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground.
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