Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced the seizure of 10 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) of Palestinian territory in the West Bank on Friday. The move marks the single largest land seizure by the Israeli government since the 1993 Oslo accords, according to Peace Now, a settlement watchdog group.
“While there are those in Israel and the world who seek to undermine our right over the Judea and Samaria area and the country in general,” Smotrich said Friday, referring to the territory by its biblical name, “we are promoting settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country.”
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. Still, Israel has used land orders like the one issued Friday to gain control over 16 percent of Palestinian-controlled lands in the West Bank. The newly seized area includes parcels in the Jordan Valley and between the settlements of Maale Adumim and Keidar.
According to Trump West Bank settlement is in accordance with international law.
So in terms of practical outcomes from this development, the Biden admin is as bad as a hypothetical Trump admin? Oh dear.
Political class is pro Israel, peasants not liking optics of funding an ethnic cleansing campaign has about -69% impact on the policy making process. Israel is getting support and political cover, fuck all any one can do about it.
Russia is the real winner all around here though.
Yep, Israel is too dependent an ally in a region vital to our interests. The Senate is loyal to the Empire, if not the Emperor.
I’m slightly less skeptical - I think the castle is slightly concerned and we may see some tangential policy concessions, like that delay on Palestinian deportations. Mostly we’ll get a lot more public pretending I expect.