West Bank to be declared Jewish state by Israel's Defense Minister
Israeli Authority Announces Revised West Bank Settlement Plans
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Thursday plans to build 22 new settlements in the West Bank, a controversial move widely deemed illegal under international law. During his visit to the Palestinian territory this week, Katz's announcement was met with criticism from several mediator nations, including France, which will host an international conference on a two-state solution in mid-June.
The Israeli Government has so far refused to recognize the international legal status of its planned settlements in the West Bank. These new settlements, comprising the legalization of existing outposts and the establishment of new communities, have been met with criticism from neighboring countries like Jordan and Britain, who view them as obstacles to Palestinian statehood.
Katz described this announcement as a firm response to terrorist organizations trying to undermine Israeli control over the West Bank. He further stated it was a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his partners, "You will recognize a Palestinian state on paper - but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on this land."
Meanwhile, the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip continues to threaten all residents with famine. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that the Gaza Strip is the only clearly defined territory where the entire population is threatened by hunger. Thus, the Gaza Strip has been labeled as the place with the greatest hunger in the world.
Despite lifting the blockade on humanitarian aid shipments to the Palestinian territory, the distribution of such aid has been unsatisfactory since the blockade's removal. Israel has allowed 900 trucks with humanitarian cargo to cross the border, but only the cargo of 600 trucks has been accessible in the Gaza Strip, and distribution remains challenging due to ongoing attacks.
Israel, Israel War, Two-State Solution, Middle East Conflict, Hamas
The European Union, committed to the development of a common foreign and security policy, has expressed concern over Israel's revised West Bank settlement plans, viewing them as obstacles to a two-state solution and potential escalators of war-and-conflicts in the Middle East. Recent criticism from mediator nations, like France, and neighboring countries, such as Jordan and Britain, highlights the political and general-news significance of these settlement plans.
