Israel Publishes New Settlement Plan In West Bank, Minister Of Finance Smotrich: Nothing Stops Development

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

JAKARTA - Israel has published a plan for one of the new settlements proposed in the West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Wednesday.

The right-wing minister said the move was a response to action by leaders of the Palestinian West Bank and countries that have recognized the Palestinian State.

"There is no anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist decision that will stop residential development. We will continue to fight against dangerous ideas about the Palestinian state. This is my life's mission," Smotrich said.

A new 60-hectare settlement called Nachal Heletz will be part of the residential group Gush Etzion and connect the area with nearby Jerusalem, Smotrich, who heads the pro-communicateur party and who is also a settlers.

Most United Nations member states consider the settlements built in the West Bank and other regions captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war as illegal under international law.

Israel denies this, citing the historical relations and alkitabiah of Jews with the land.

In May, Spain, Ireland and Norway joined the majority of UN countries that have recognized the Palestinian state, viewing the creation of such a nation alongside Israel as the only way to secure lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.

Last June, Israel announced it would legalize five outposts in the West Bank, build three new settlements, and confiscate most of the land Palestinians are trying to establish an independent country, which further angers Palestinians.

"For every country that unilaterally recognizes the Palestinian state, we will build new settlements and thus end the idea of defamation about the creation of a Palestinian state that would jeopardize the existence of the State of Israel," Smotrich said at the time, citing Haaretz's Anadolu.

Smotrich said the decision to legalize five settlement outposts was "respons to the unilateral recognition of the five countries" over Palestine as a country.

Separately, Peace Now, Israel's NGO, said: "Smotrich continues to promote de facto annexation, ignoring Israel's signed UNESCO Convention, and we will all pay the price."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited authority over the West Bank under Israeli military occupation, reiterated that the construction of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes constitute ethnic cleansing, a charge Israel denies.