JERUSALEM: The United Nations (UN) Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, issued a warning on Monday against recent decisions made by the Israeli government to relax procedures for authorizing settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move has raised concerns about the potential acceleration of settlement expansion in the region.
In a statement from Wennesland’s office, he expressed deep concern about the Israeli government’s decision to alter settlement planning procedures, which have been in place since 1996. The changes are expected to expedite the authorization process for settlement construction. Settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.
On Sunday, Israel’s planning authority published its agenda for a meeting scheduled on June 26, where plans for constructing over 4,500 new units in the West Bank are set to be advanced.
US Expresses Concern over Israel’s Plans
The United States State Department expressed deep concern over the announcement, stating that it was “deeply troubled” by the move and similarly worried about the proposed changes to the settlement authorization process.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. The region is home to approximately 2.9 million Palestinians and over 500,000 Jewish settlers. The expansion of settlements has been a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the international community advocating for a halt to settlement construction as it undermines the prospects of a two-state solution.
