Senior members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition have sought further expansion of settlements in the West Bank region captured by Israel in the 1967 war and where Palestinians aim to establish a state.
Most world powers consider Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal. Israel disputes and cites biblical, historical and political links to the West Bank as well as security interests.
Jean-Pierre said, “We are deeply disappointed by the Israeli announcement that they will push for thousands of new settlements and retroactively legalize nine outposts in the West Bank that until now were illegal under Israeli law.”
On Sunday, Israel granted retrospective authorization to nine settler outposts in the West Bank and announced mass construction of new homes in established settlements.