‘Morally wrong’: Sa’ar hits out at countries condemning new West Bank settlements |
Israel reacted furiously on Thursday to a condemnation by 14 countries, including France and Britain, of its approval of new settlements in the West Bank, calling the criticism discriminatory against Jews.
“Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews,” said Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
“The cabinet decision to establish 11 new settlements and to formalize eight additional settlements is intended, among other things, to help address the security threats Israel is facing,” he said.
On Sunday, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that authorities had greenlit the settlements, saying the move was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“On the ground, we are blocking the establishment of a Palestinian terror state,” said Smotrich, a vocal proponent of settlement expansion and a settler himself.
Fourteen countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Canada, then issued a statement urging Israel to reverse........