Far-right minister Smotrich handed yet more powers to expand West Bank settlements

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved a resolution on Sunday, granting Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich more power of the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Smotrich, who also holds a ministry portfolio in the Defence Ministry, will now be given authority to approve one of the steps required in expanding settlements. He will, however, not be able to singlehandedly approve new settlement construction, which still require cabinet approval.

But the new resolution will expedite the process of approving settlement expansions, which at the moment is a lengthy process, requiring political approval at all stages of the process.

Both the Prime Minister and Defence Minister are able to intervene and delay the process.

The amendments to the system, approved in 1996, will now no longer require the Defence Minister to approve hearings on land usage by a planning committee.

The Higher Planning Committee of the Civil Administration, which falls under Smotrich’s authority, will convene next week to discuss the approval of more than 4,000 housing units in West Bank settlements.

Smotrich lauded the prospects of the new units, saying it will “make the six months since this government was formed a record for the rate of settlement construction (planning) in the last decade.”

“The construction boom in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and in all parts of our country continues. As we promised, today we are advancing the construction of thousands more new units in Judea and Samaria… We will continue to develop the settlements and strengthen Israel’s hold on the territory,” Smotrich said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. harshly criticised the government’s intentions to approve the over 4,000 units.

“The United States is deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s reported decision to advance planning for over 4,000 settlement units in the West Bank. We are similarly concerned by reports of changes to Israel’s system of settlement administration that expedite the planning and approvals of settlements,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

“As has been longstanding policy, the United States opposes such unilateral actions that make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace. We call on the Government of Israel to fulfil the commitments it made in Aqaba, Jordan and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and return to dialogue aimed at de-escalation,” Miller said.

The State Department spokesperson referred to a promise made by Israel at a summit earlier this year with the PA, the U.S., Egypt and Jordan, to “stop discussion of any new settlement units for four months and to stop authorisation of any outposts for six months.”