Netanyahu: “The West Bank Is Our Land”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the West Bank is “our land,” while signaling that Israel will continue expanding Jewish settlements across the occupied territory.
Netanyahu said Israel is preparing for the arrival of more Jewish settlers, describing the West Bank as “Jewish land” and reaffirming his government’s commitment to expanding Israeli communities there.
The latest settlement plan, known as E1, includes more than 3,400 housing units in the West Bank. The project has drawn strong criticism from Arab and Western countries, which warn that expanding settlements could further undermine prospects for a two-state solution.
Netanyahu has long supported extending Israeli control over the West Bank, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly called for the territory to be formally annexed to Israel.
The developments are likely to intensify international criticism of Israel’s settlement policy and further complicate efforts toward a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian settlement.