Alwaght- Washington says it is "deeply troubled” by the brewing Israeli government’s plans to issue thousands of construction permits in the occupied West Bank.
The plans for approval of 4,560 housing units in various areas of the West Bank were included on the agenda of Israel’s Supreme Planning Council that meets next week, although only 1,332 are up for final approval, with the remainder still going through the preliminary clearance process, reported the Guardian.
The hardline Israeli Fiance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed “we will continue to develop the settlement and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory.
Most of the world countries and the UN do not recognize the Israeli settlements, arguing they are built on lands usurped from the Palestinian.
The settlement plans returned to the face of the Israeli policy after hardliners assumed posts in renewed rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Even the Western allies of Israel are opposed to the settlement projects, thinking that they will inflame tensions.
“The European Union condemns and deeply deplores today's approval, by Israeli authorities, of plans for advancing over 4,400 housing units, further expanding illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, as well as the retroactive approval of three illegal outposts,” EU statement in March read.
The government of Netanyahu, however, turns a blind eye to the global calls for abandoning illegal construction plans and demolishing the Palestinian houses.
Since Netanyahu retook the PM post in December, the US-Israeli went frayed as the hardliners in the cabinet continue to sway Tel Aviv polices.
