RAMALLAH: Israel’s nationalist-religious administration filed plans on Sunday to approve thousands of building licences in the occupied West Bank, defying US efforts to halt settlement development, which Washington sees as a barrier to peace with the Palestinians.
The approval of 4,560 housing units in various West Bank districts is on the agenda of Israel’s Supreme Planning Council, which meets next week, however only 1,332 are up for final approval, with the remainder still undergoing preliminary clearance.
“We will continue to develop the settlement of and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory,” stated Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has a defence post, giving him a prominent position in West Bank administration.
Most countries consider the settlements, which were built on land taken by Israel during the 1967 Middle East conflict, to be illegal. Their existence is a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Peace talks brokered by the United States have been stalled since 2014.
Since taking power in January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has allowed the promotion of over 7,000 new dwelling units, the majority of which are located deep in the West Bank.
It also changed a law to allow residents to return to four villages that had previously been evacuated.
In response to Israel’s decision on Sunday, the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule in portions of the West Bank, announced it will boycott a Joint Economic Committee meeting with Israel set for Monday.
The Palestinian Islamist party Hamas, which has administered Gaza since 2007, following Israel’s pullout of soldiers and settlers, has blasted the decision, claiming that it “will not give (Israel) legitimacy over our land.” Our people will fight it with everything they have.”
Jewish settlers applauded the announcement.
“The people have chosen to continue building in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, and that is the way it should be,” said Shlomo Ne’eman, mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, referring to the biblical names for Israel’s West Bank.
