Posted on 06/18/23
| News Source: i24
'We will continue to develop the settlements and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory,' Smotrich says
Israel's government on Sunday put forth plans to approve thousands of building permits in the West Bank, despite U.S. pressure to halt settlement expansion that Washington regards as an obstacle to a lasting peace with the Palestinians.
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.
"We will continue to develop the settlements and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds a defense portfolio that gives him a leading role in West Bank administration.