The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said today that reports about the Israeli government granting far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich powers to approve settlement construction and expansion represents a serious development in the way to a full Israeli annexation of the West Bank. In a press statement, the Foreign Ministry warned of the dangers of this decision, which it described as another step towards applying Israeli law to the West Bank and facilitating the ‘quiet, noiseless’ approval of settlement projects. The Foreign Ministry called for real international and American action to press the Israeli government to backtrack on this decision, and to take the necessary practical steps to force the Israeli government to stop its illegal unilateral measures that undermine the opportunities to achieve a two-state solution. Earlier today, the Israeli occupation government approved a decision authorizing the head of the Religious Zionist Party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to issue preliminary approval for planning and building in the Israeli settlements, in addition to expediting the procedures for expansion of settlements. The Israeli public broadcaster Kan said that the decision requires that construction plans in the settlements be advanced without the approval of the Israeli political echelon, contrary to the situation that has existed for 25 years.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA