On Wednesday, Israel moved forward plans to build about 3,000 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank despite statements from the Biden administration against settlement expansion.
The Israeli Defense Ministry’s higher planning council that approves new settlements said 1,804 units were given the final approval for construction, and another 1,326 units were advanced to a stage of preliminary approval.
The move came a day after the Biden administration condemned Israel’s plans. “We are deeply concerned about the Israeli government’s plan to advance thousands of settlement units tomorrow, Wednesday, many of them deep in the West Bank,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
“We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements, which is completely inconsistent with efforts to lower tensions and to ensure calm, and it damages the prospects for a two-state solution,” Price added.
According to a report from Axios, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on the phone with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday and said the planned settlement construction was “unacceptable.” Blinken was unhappy over the number of units being approved and the fact that they will be built deep in the West Bank.
The approval is the first major settlement expansion announced during Biden’s presidency. Israeli officials told Axios that they were surprised by how opposed the administration is to new settlements but also pointed out that the criticism is primarily coming from the State Department, and the White House has been quiet on the issue.
While the Biden administration claims it opposes the new settlements, it’s unlikely the US will take any action against the plans, and the slow de facto annexation of the West Bank through settlement expansion will continue.
Once UN Resolution 181finally gets implemented, I guessing these people will be living in the Arab State of Palestine. There might be some issues with the legal landowners wanting their landback, but I’m sure those people who buy these homes in the occupied territories are aware of the risks
The borders described in UNR 181 remain the sole internationally recognized boundries between the 2 states.
True enough, but who’s going to enforce it?
The Zios are already in violation of dozens of UN mandates and articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Yet the world looks the other way.
Just a matter of time my friend,
Sure, as much time as there is until our Sun belches out an inferno that takes the earth out. In other words, a few billions of years. Nothing is going to happen. Nothing.
Hi vlp
Something will happen eventually. Already more than half of Americans under the age of 65 favor the Palestinian cause over Israhell.
When the senile old bastards that currently determine our policies are rotting in their graves, it will make way for the likes of Ilhan, Rashida and Cory.
Remember that it took the Irish hundreds of years to emerge from occupation by the execrable Brits, but victory was theirs because they never gave up. Neither will the Palestinians.
One day the quasi-nation of “Israel” will be relegated to the dustbin of history.
The constellation of forces is rapidly changing. hence the desperate moves on Tel Aviv‘s Part.
UNR 181 is the only way to preserve the Jewish state. Otherwise, it’s one man one vote.
Put your money where your fucking mouth is, Amerikkka. Half-hearted admonitions to the ZioMonsters are laughable: the only thing these subhumans understand is $$$.
If you’re serious, cut off the welfare, or qualify it, as George H W Bush did.
And since this ain’t a-gonna happen, just keep your fucking, flapping mouths shut and stop pretending that anything you tell the ZioMonsters will make a hill of beans worth of difference.
Time for the Palestinians to take their destiny into their own hands. Hopefully Iran and Hezbollah will help.
Pressure? That would be holding that $3.8 billion dollar check in the air and saying the settlements stop or the check doesn’t get mailed. Although that would be just the start to putting an end to their nefarious activities and a lengthy list of further major “concessions” will be forthcoming before one thin dime makes it their way.