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Israel Approves and Legalizes Dozens of West Bank Settlements
Haaretz reported that the government has legalized dozens of settlements placed to hinder future political agreements. Minister Bezalel Smotrich linked the moves to ending prospects for a Palestinian state.
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Israel's government has approved the establishment and legalization of dozens of strategically placed settlements across the West Bank during its term, Haaretz reported. The placements aim to create facts on the ground that would complicate any future political settlement. Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated last August that the actions were erasing the Palestinian state from consideration.
"Today we are establishing historical facts on the ground. The Palestinian state is being erased from the table, not with slogans but with actions. Every community, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea," he said.
Smotrich added that the steps erased the possibility of two states. "This is a significant step that effectively erases the illusion of 'two states'," he stated. The E1 plan, which permits construction between Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim, received approval last August.
Haaretz reported that the overall approvals target locations intended to make reversal by a future government extremely difficult.
