Ignoring warnings from powerful ally the US, Israel decided to build nearly 3,500 settlement houses in the West Bank. What chance for regional peace?

The Israeli government is pushing ahead with plans to build nearly 3,500 homes for settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Phớt lờ cảnh báo của đồng minh quyền lực Mỹ, Israel quyết xây gần 3.500 nhà định cư ở Bờ Tây, cơ hội nào cho hòa bình khu vực?

A construction site for new housing projects in the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze'ev in the occupied West Bank. (Source: AP)

The news was announced by Israeli Minister of Settlement Affairs Orit Strock in a post on social network X on March 6.

Times of Israel quoted Minister Orit Strock as emphasizing that the Israeli government is fulfilling its commitment to build thousands of houses, and affirmed that it will continue to promote settlements.

According to Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now, the planning committee has granted construction permits for 3,426 homes across Maale Adumim and Kedar, east Jerusalem, and Efrat, south of the city.

Last month, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also announced that he would expand settlements, in response to attacks by Palestinian militants in the West Bank.

This move comes as the conflict between Israel and the Hamas Islamic Movement continues in the Gaza Strip without any progress in negotiations to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that any expansion of Israeli settlements would be "counterproductive to achieving lasting peace" with the Palestinians.

Also on March 6, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli government's move as "illegal, violating all principles of international law, resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, especially Resolution 2234 and related documents".

Anadolu quoted the ministry's statement as emphasizing that Israel's decision to change the historical and legal status quo in the occupied Palestinian territories undermines all chances of achieving peace and establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Similarly, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning Israel's move, emphasizing that the Middle Eastern country's continued annexation and occupation of Palestinian territories will not change the legal, historical and demographic status of the region.

In addition, Egypt called on international parties to take a strong stance against Israel's settlement policy and affirm the illegality of these settlements.

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