Israel's far-right government has approved plans to construct thousands of new homes in the occupied West Bank, defying calls from the White House for restraint, NBC News reported.
The decision, made by the Defense Ministry planning committee overseeing settlement construction, threatens to strain already tense relations between Israel and the United States and has heightened tensions with Palestinians amidst escalating violence in the occupied territory.
Reports from multiple Israeli media outlets indicate that over 5,000 new settlement homes have been approved at various stages of planning. The exact timeline for construction commencement remains unclear, and the Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the matter.
The international community, including the Palestinians, considers settlement construction in the occupied territories to be illegal and a significant obstacle to achieving peace. Presently, over 700,000 Israelis reside in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war and sought by the Palestinians as part of their future state.
Israel's current government, which assumed office in late December, is predominantly composed of religious and ultranationalist politicians closely aligned with the settlement movement. Their approval of these new homes demonstrates their unwavering commitment to expanding Israeli presence in the occupied territories.
The Biden Administration has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israel's settlement policies and has consistently called on the country to halt further construction. However, despite these rebukes, the United States has taken minimal action against its close ally.
The decision to proceed with the construction of thousands of new settlement homes is likely to exacerbate the strain on U.S.-Israel relations. The move comes at a time when tensions are already high, with escalating violence in the occupied territories and the stalled peace process.
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