West Bank
Israel approves construction of more than 5,600 settler homes
A Palestinian cements a wall in a housing complex in the large West Bank Jewish settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. (Archive image) photo
© epa Jim Hollander/epa/dpa
Israel’s settlement policy is highly controversial and has been described as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East. After shorter approval processes, construction is now going on again – as a reaction to an attack.
According to media reports, Israel has approved the construction of more than 5,600 apartments in settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to Israeli media, the responsible authorities have approved construction plans in various settlements.
The blueprints are in various stages of planning, some at the very beginning and some in the final stages. A week ago, the government decided to shorten the approval process for settlement expansion.
The construction of 1,000 homes planned in the Eli settlement was announced in response to a deadly attack in the West Bank last week. Two militant Palestinians had shot dead four Israelis at a gas station.
“The Israeli government is pushing us towards the complete annexation of the West Bank at an unprecedented pace,” warned the Israeli human rights organization Peace Now in view of the development. In the first half of the year, more than 13,000 settler apartments had already been approved – more than ever since the organization started recording in 2012. For comparison: Last year, according to the information, a good 4,400 apartments were approved. The most right-wing government in Israel’s history has been in office since the end of last year.
Controversial settlement policy
Israel’s settlement policy is highly controversial. At the end of 2016, the UN Security Council called on Israel to completely stop settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. In a UN resolution, settlements were described as a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967 during the Six Day War. The Palestinians, on the other hand, want to establish an independent state of Palestine in the area with East Jerusalem as its capital.