In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation, Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced on Wednesday that the government has approved the construction of a new settlement on a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The settlement, named Nahal Heletz, is set to be built in the Gush Etzion bloc of settlements, south of Jerusalem.
Smotrich, who also heads civil affairs at the defense ministry, said that his office had “completed its work and published a plan for the new Nahal Heletz settlement.” The approval of the settlement comes despite the fact that all of Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are considered illegal under international law.
The construction of the new settlement is a clear provocation to the Palestinian people and a blatant disregard for international law. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, and the international community has consistently called for an end to settlement expansion.
The approval of the settlement also comes at a time of heightened tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which has been raging since October 7, has led to widespread violence and instability in the region. The construction of a new settlement will only serve to further exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Gush Etzion bloc of settlements, where the new settlement is set to be built, is a highly sensitive area. The bloc is home to several settlements, including Alon Shvut, Bat Ayin, and Kfar Etzion, and is considered a strategic location by the Israeli government. The construction of a new settlement in this area will further entrench Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and limit the prospects for a two-state solution.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, on which the settlement is set to be built, is a place of significant cultural and historical importance. The site is home to several ancient villages and archaeological sites, including the village of Battir, which dates back to the Roman era. The construction of a settlement on this site will not only damage the cultural and historical heritage of the area but also undermine the rights of the Palestinian people to their land and heritage.
The international community has widely condemned the approval of the settlement. The United Nations has repeatedly called on Israel to end its settlement expansion and to respect international law. The European Union has also condemned the approval of the settlement, stating that it is “contrary to international law and undermines the prospects for a two-state solution.”
The Palestinian Authority has also condemned the approval of the settlement, stating that it is a “clear provocation” and a “blatant disregard for international law.” The PA has called on the international community to take immediate action to stop the construction of the settlement and to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
In recent years, dozens of unauthorized settlements have sprung up in the West Bank. These settlements are often built on privately owned Palestinian land and are home to extremist settlers who are known for their violence against Palestinian civilians. The approval of the Nahal Heletz settlement is a clear indication that the Israeli government is willing to tolerate and even encourage the growth of these extremist settlements.
The construction of the Nahal Heletz settlement is a clear threat to the prospects for peace in the region. It is a blatant disregard for international law and a provocation to the Palestinian people. The international community must take immediate action to stop the construction of the settlement and to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The Palestinian people will not be deterred by this latest attempt to undermine their rights and will continue to fight for their freedom and self-determination.
Settlement Expansion: A Threat to Peace
The approval of the Nahal Heletz settlement is part of a larger pattern of settlement expansion in the West Bank. In recent years, the Israeli government has approved the construction of thousands of new settlement units, despite the fact that these settlements are considered illegal under international law.
The expansion of settlements is a major obstacle to peace in the region. It undermines the prospects for a two-state solution and limits the ability of the Palestinian people to establish a viable state. The international community has repeatedly called on Israel to end its settlement expansion, but the Israeli government has refused to comply.
The construction of settlements also has a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians. Many settlements are built on privately owned Palestinian land, leading to the displacement of Palestinian families and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. The expansion of settlements also leads to increased violence and instability in the region, as extremist settlers often attack Palestinian civilians and destroy their property.
The international community must take immediate action to stop the expansion of settlements and to hold Israel accountable for its actions. This includes imposing sanctions on Israel and supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction (BDS) the Israeli government. The Palestinian people will not be deterred by this latest attempt to undermine their rights and will continue to fight for their freedom and self-determination.
The approval of the Nahal Heletz settlement is a clear provocation to the Palestinian people and a blatant disregard for international law. The construction of the settlement will undermine the prospects for peace in the region and limit the ability of the Palestinian people to establish a viable state. The international community must take immediate action to stop the construction of the settlement and to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The Palestinian people will continue to fight for their freedom and self-determination, and will not be deterred by this latest attempt to undermine their rights.
