‘Inconsistent with international law’: US shift in language as Israel plan settlement expansion in occupied West Bank

Israel’s recent announcement of plans to add thousands more homes to settlements in the occupied West Bank served as the catalyst for the Biden administration’s declaration that such actions are “inconsistent” with international law, According to media reports quoted U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

Rather than following the usual carefully orchestrated policy rollout process in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement in response to a question during a news conference in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.

Last week, Israeli ministers agreed to convene a planning council to approve the construction of approximately 3,300 homes in settlements. Blinken expressed disappointment with this decision, emphasizing that Washington has been advocating for a resumption of efforts toward a two-state solution to the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Naftali Bennett, the influential leader of one of the hard-right pro-settler parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, resides in a settlement himself and has consistently supported further settlement expansion.

Shlomo Ne’eman, Mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, stated, “This is also our answer to the nations of the world,” underscoring the resolve to continue strengthening Gush Etzion with increased population, educational institutions, infrastructure, and community facilities.

Peace Now, an Israeli advocacy group monitoring settlement expansion, reported last month that there has been an unprecedented surge in settlement activities since the onset of the Gaza war in October.

According to a report by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, there are currently just under 700,000 settlers residing in 279 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, marking an increase from 520,000 in 2012.