US To Saudi Arabia Criticizes The Approval Of The Development Of Thousands Of New Houses In The West Bank As Illegal Action

Construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (Wikimedia Commons/Troclaire)

JAKARTA - The United States, Germany, and Saudi Arabia criticized the Israeli government's approval for the construction of thousands of new homes for Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Wednesday.

"The settlement continues to be a barrier to peace. Settlements remain inconsistent with international law," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, quoted by The Times of Israel March 7.

Miller's statement reiterated the stance first voiced last month by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when Israel announced its intention to advance plans for thousands of new residential houses.

In characterizing settlements as inconsistent with international law, Foreign Minister Blinken restored the US historic policy on the matter and rejected the attitude implemented by the previous administration.

"This settlement not only harms the Palestinian people, but ultimately weakens Israel's security and weakens the prospect of an eternal agreement that will provide real peace and security for the Israeli people," Miller said.

The condemnation of the approval of the construction of around 3,500 new homes for Israeli settlers in the West Bank was also criticized by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move as an attempt to "divide most of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which goes against all international resolutions, international human rights laws and UN Charters, and goes against efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region".

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also reaffirmed its call for a two-state solution as before 1967.

It is known that the Ministry of Defense's agency, which authorized settlement restrictions, proposed plans to build 3,426 new homes in the West Bank. After months of pause in development approval in the West Bank, the project to build 2,402 new homes in Maale Adumim, 694 houses in Karyat and 330 houses in Keidar was proposed by the Civil Administration High Planning Subcommittee, said Settlement Minister Orit Strock.

Projects in Maale Adumim and Kedar have been approved through an initial planning stage called deposits, while homes in Karyat receive more final planning approval before construction.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is under the auspices of the subcommittee, has compiled the latest expansion on February 22, calling it the "proper Zionist response" to a terror attack outside Ma'ale Adumim that day, which killed one person and injured 11 others.

"The enemy tried to hurt and weaken us, but we will continue to build and build in this country," Smotrich wrote on X on Wednesday, announcing the success of his efforts.

Smotrich said in his announcement on Wednesday that a record 18,515 houses had been approved in the West Bank over the past fourteen months since the far-right government took power.

Separately, the majority of the international community, including Palestinians, considers the construction of illegal settlements or illegal and an obstacle to a two-state solution. More than 500,000 Israelis now live in the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967 and are wanted by Palestine to become a future country.

Sepai Arab Saudi dan Amerika Serikat, Jerman juga meminta Israel mencabut persetujuan tersebut, dengan Kementerian Luar Negeri mengatakan pembangunan permukiman di wilayah Palestina merupakan pelanggaran serius hukum internasional.

"We strongly condemn the approval of further residential units in the West Bank," Berlin added.

Strong criticism from the approval also came from the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Jordan.

Palestinian Authority President spokesman Mahmoud Abbas called the news a "slap on the face" for countries calling for an end to residential activities.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the expansion of the new settlements "serves to change the historical and legal situation in the occupied Palestinian territories."

"Meanwhile, the Hamas group said the action was nothing but a message of defiance and carelessness from the Zionist government led by war criminals."