Israeli PM welcomes expansion of colonies

Since 1967, Israel has built 130 colonies that are home to nearly 500,000 colonists

In the face of enemy violence, the Zionist answer has always been settlement, security and immigration.”

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday welcomed a recent decision to expand Jewish colonies in the occupied West Bank that the Palestinians and most of the international community view as illegal.

During a visit to the colony of Elkana, he cast the expansion of colonies as a response to recent Palestinian violence.

“In the face of enemy violence, the Zionist answer has always been settlement, security and immigration,” Bennett said. “Last week we approved here in Elkana, to my understanding, the largest volume of construction at once, since the establishment of the town.”

He appeared to be referring to the approval of more than 4,000 colonist homes by a military planning body. That decision came a week after Israel’s Supreme Court upheld an order to expel at least 1,000 Palestinians from a region in the West Bank declared a military firing zone.

Naftali Bennett | Israeli Prime Minister

3m West Bank Palestinians

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state. Israel has already built more than 130 colonies that today are home to nearly 500,000 colonists. Nearly three million Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule.

During a call with Bennett on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel

Macron expressed “concern” about the colony construction and “his desire to contribute to a decisive revival of peace efforts in the Middle East,” according to a readout from the French presidential palace.

Journalist killing

Macron also urged Bennett to bring to a quick conclusion the investigation into the death last week of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.

Bennett, a longtime supporter of colonies who once led the main settler council, is opposed to Palestinian statehood. He leads a government that includes parties from across Israel’s political spectrum, including some opposed to colonies.

In the interest of keeping the coalition together, they have ruled out any major peace initiatives or outright annexation.