2023-06-19 01:04:00
Palestine plans retaliation
Moscow. June 19. INTERFAX.RU – The Cabinet of Ministers of Israel approved on Sunday a resolution to significantly speed up the process of approving new construction projects in Israeli settlements in the West Bank of the Jordan, Axios reports.
The resolution limits the prime minister’s and defense secretary’s control over the approval of settlement plans, effectively reducing the ability of the US and other countries to pressure the government to halt such plans.
Now it will only be necessary to approve construction plans at the political level at the initial planning stage and at the last stage, when tenders for contractors are announced. Prior to this decision, the approval process included four to five stages, the portal explains.
As reported by Axios, the Israeli government has previously informed the US administration regarding plans to build at least 4,000 housing units in several existing settlements in the West Bank.
The Joe Biden administration has repeatedly stated that it opposes any unilateral Israeli move, including settlement expansion, that would undermine efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on a two-state basis.
In particular, the American State Department expressed concern regarding the development of the situation following the decision of the Israeli Cabinet.
“The United States is deeply concerned regarding the Israeli government’s announcement of plans to build over 4,000 housing units in the West Bank. We are also concerned regarding reports of changes to the Israeli settlement management system that are speeding up their planning and approval,” the statement said.
It notes that Washington “opposes such unilateral actions that make it difficult to achieve a two-state solution and are an obstacle to
US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs Barbara Leaf is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
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