Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked on Friday announced plans to advance the construction of about 4,000 homes in Jewish state, drawing condemnation from the United States and warnings of "serious consequences" from the Palestinian Authority
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If approved, it would be the biggest settlement construction plan since the Biden administration took office. The White House is opposed to settlement growth, arguing it further erodes the possibility of an eventual two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On Twitter, Shaked, a staunch supporter of the Settlement Movement, called the move a "basic, required and obvious thing."
The Civil Administration, a military body, is slated to convene its zoning committee on Thursday to advance the construction of 1,452 homes. Defense Minister Benny Gantz is expected to approve 2,536 additional housing units, Israeli media reported.
The Settlement Movement welcomed the decision but was critical of the fact that Shaked had apparently cut 2,000 homes from the original proposal.
Yigal Dilmoni, head of the Yesha Council – the umbrella organization of all the local authorities in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley – told Israel Hayom that "the only answer to terrorism is construction but this government is going about thing the wrong way. It is capitulating to terrorism. This government needs to become a thing of the past."
Samaria Regional Council leader Yossi Dagan slammed the government: "Despite their promises, homes have been cut from this plan. Naftali Bennett's government is stalling the settlements, and it has abandoned the Negev and Judea and Samaria. We've had enough of his media spins. This government will fall!"
Officials in Gantz's office rejected the criticism, saying, "There is a need for construction over population growth in the area and it has been a while since [new] construction was approved. This is why a balanced plan has been crafted – to meet the settlers' need without poking the US in the eye."
The Biden administration was quick to denounce the move, saying any Israeli construction in the West Bank "deeply damages the prospects for a two-state solution."
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides told the Axios news agency that Biden officials "implore Israel" not to move forward with the plans.
In Washington, State Department Spokeswoman Jalina Porter said, "Israel's plan of expanding settlements deeply damages the prospects for a two-state solution. The Biden Administration has been clear on this from the outset. We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements which exacerbates tensions and undermines trust between the parties.
"Israel's program of expanding settlements deeply damages the prospects for a two-state solution," she said, adding that Washington calls on the sides "to avoid unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' top adviser Nabil Abu Rudeineh, warned any Israeli construction plan in the West Bank would have "serious consequences on the ground" but did not elaborate.
Jordan's Foreign Ministry also condemned the move, calling it a "flagrant and grave breach of international law."
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