Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday the construction of some 800 housing units in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank – a few days before the inauguration of US President Joe Biden.
According to a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, there are 100 new homes for the Tal Menashe settlement, where Ester Horgan, a 53-year-old mother of six, was killed by a Palestinian attacker while jogging last month. in a nearby forest.
The new plan includes legalizing an outpost.
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The Israeli media division Kann reported that Alternative Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz instructed the panel of the Ministry of Defense to meet next week for green light construction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an information session on the development of the coronavirus in Israel at his office in Jerusalem, Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Alex Kolomiensky / Yedioth Ahronoth via AP, Pool)
It was not immediately clear how soon the houses would be built, as such construction usually requires approval from various government agencies and a tender process.
The move drew criticism from opposing parties, such as Yair Lapid, the leader of the political party Yesh Atid, who called the move “irresponsible” and said it would cause an unnecessary conflict with Biden’s government.
“The Biden government has not yet held office and the government. A sensible government is not starting an unnecessary battle with a new US president,” Lapid said. tweeted.
The Israeli left-wing organization “Peace Now” said Netanyahu’s announcement to the Biden government indicated that “Israel wants a confrontation.”
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The Trump administration openly supported Netanyahu’s policy regarding the Jewish settlements of the West Bank.
Earlier Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman visited the Knesset, Israel’s legislative branch, at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee’s subcommittee on policy and strategy. During the closed session, the Ambassador referred to the issue and called it one of his most important achievements.
“We have succeeded together and made it stronger than ever before, and made our nations safer, more peaceful and prosperous,” he said. “And people, as my friends put down the list of some of the achievements, whether it recognized the capital of Israel Jerusalem, to sovereignty over the Golan Heights, for the non-illegality, if you will, of communities in Yehuda Veshomron”.
In this file from November 16, 2020, workers take a breather before European Union officials visit the construction site of the Givat Hamatos settlement in Jerusalem. On Monday, January 12, 2021, Israel made plans to build 800 new settler houses in the occupied West Bank, a move that ties ties with the incoming government of Pres. Joe Biden can come in. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the move, saying it would include 100 homes in a settlement where an Israeli woman was recently killed in a suspected terrorist attack. (AP Photo / Maya Alleruzzo, file)
As described in the Biden-Harris website, the Biden administration is expected to take a non-tolerance approach with Israel.
“Biden is against any unilateral action on either side that undermines a two-state solution,” the website said. “He opposes the annexation and expansion of the settlement and will continue to oppose both as president.”
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Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, territories that the Palestinians want for their future state. Nearly 500,000 Israelis live in settlements spread across the West Bank. The Palestinians see settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, a position with wide international support.
Israel will hold its fourth round of elections in two years in March, and Netanyahu’s decision is expected to strengthen his support of right-wing citizens and settlers, which will ensure his next term.