UK Denounces Israel’s West Bank Settlement Expansion Plans
The new policy will simplify the process for Jewish settlers to acquire land in the West Bank by removing the requirement to obtain a special permit from Israeli authorities. Additionally, it grants expanded authority to officials in areas that were intended to remain under full Palestinian governance.
The British government has issued a firm rebuke, urging Israel to undo the decision without delay. “Any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law,” the UK government said in a statement.
Hardline ultranationalist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that West Jerusalem remains determined to continue “to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.” In a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Smotrich outlined the weekend’s security cabinet measures.
The ministers explained that the cabinet eliminated the need for individuals seeking to buy land in the West Bank to obtain a permit from a civil administration office. It also overturned a longstanding law from the Jordanian era, which had kept land registries confidential, making them publicly accessible. According to Smotrich and Katz, these changes will simplify land purchases for Jewish settlers.
Observers contend that Israel’s latest actions represent a push toward full annexation of the West Bank, a goal long championed by the country’s hardline nationalist factions. According to reports, the Israeli pro-two-state settlement watchdog Peace Now argued that the cabinet’s decision further entrenches the development of settlements, which are widely regarded as illegal under international law.
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