Israel Begins Construction of New Settlement in West Jerusalem

• Israel is beginning construction of a new settlement in West Jerusalem.
• The government plans to finalize decisions on the new settlement.
• Palestinians and human rights organizations condemn Israel's plans.

Israel announced the start of construction for a new settlement in West Jerusalem, which has sparked condemnation among Palestinians and human rights organizations. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that this decision could undermine plans for the establishment of a Palestinian state and even effectively divide the West Bank into two parts.

This announcement came in the context of statements from many countries about the intention to recognize a Palestinian state in the future. Smotrich expressed the view that this decision "destroys" the idea of a Palestinian state.

The United Nations organization urged Israel to reconsider its decision, asserting that it supersedes international law and may undermine prospects for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. A representative of the UN, Stefan Dujarric, emphasized that such settlements only deepen the occupation.

The Palestinian government and various organizations condemned Israel, calling its actions illegal. Smotrich stated that the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, supported the cancellation of the development project, although no confirmation from Trump’s side has been received.

In response to these events, the United States reiterated that a stable West Bank aligns with their objective towards peace in the region.

Tags: Middle East/Politics