Blinken 'deeply concerned' by Israeli settlement plans

Benjamin Netanyahu's government plans to build about 10,000 settlement units in the occupied West Bank

Israel's security cabinet announced it would legalise nine settlements in the occupied West Bank following a series of attacks in East Jerusalem. AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “deeply concerned” about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to build close to 10,000 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Mr Netanyahu, who took office at the end of 2022, said on Sunday that the settlement plans were being made in response to Palestinian violence.

His office said a committee would meet this week “to approve the construction of new homes in existing settlements”, The Associated Press reported.

As part of the move, Israel will legalise nine outposts that were built without authorisation.

The US opposes the construction of settlements on territory belonging to Palestinians.

“We are deeply troubled by Israel’s decision yesterday to advance reportedly nearly 10,000 settlement units and to begin a process to retroactively legalise nine outposts in the West Bank that were previously illegal under Israeli law,” Mr Blinken said in a statement.

Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem — in pictures

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  Abdallah Haj Mohamad, head of Jalud village's council, stands in front of the Jewish settlement of Shvut Rachel during a tour organised by Palestinian authorities to show the development of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, on March 16, 2017. All photos: AFP

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  A picture taken on September 10, 2017 from Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighbourhood In Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, shows a worker pushing a cart in the Israeli settlement of Nof Zion.

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  Another picture taken on September 10, 2017 from Jabel Mukaber shows the Israeli settlement of Nof Zion in the foreground.

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  This picture taken on February 13, 2020 shows a section of Israel's separation barrier on the outskirts of Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem in the foreground, the Qalandia camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank behind, and Israeli construction cranes at work on new housing units in the Jewish settlement of Kochav Ya'akov in the background.

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  This picture taken on September 11, 2018 shows a view of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, located in a strategic spot in the occupied West Bank east of Jerusalem along the road to the Dead Sea near Israeli settlements.

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  People look at the Jewish settlement of Shvut Rachel during a tour organised by the Palestinian authorities for ambassadors based in Tel Aviv and consuls based in Jerusalem to show the development of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, on March 16, 2017.

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  A picture taken on February 2, 2020, shows a general view of the Israeli settlement of Alon, in the Judaean desert, east of Jerusalem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

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  A picture taken on January 27, 2020 shows the Israeli settlement Neve Yaakov, one of Jerusalem's neighbourhoods that falls between east Jerusalem and al-Ram in the occupied West Bank.

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  A picture taken on February 2, 2020, shows a general view of the Israeli settlement of Alon, in the Judaean desert, east of Jerusalem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

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  This picture taken from the Palestinian village of al-Sawahre, near the village of Abu Dis in the occupied West Bank on September 20, 2019 shows a view of the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim.

“Like previous administrations, Democratic and Republican, we strongly oppose such unilateral measures, which exacerbate tensions and undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby echoed the sentiments, though neither he nor Mr Blinken said whether Washington would take action on the issue.

A representative for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said such a move would “further undermine prospects for a viable two-state solution”, The Associated Press reported.