Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to legalize West Bank settler outposts if he is re-elected in the upcoming elections slated for March 23, reported the Jerusalem Post.
He made the announcement during a visit to the illegal Givat Harel outpost in the occupied West Bank, pointing to 160 illegal West Bank outposts, of which 65 were constructed in the last eight years during his tenure.
Prime Minister Benjamin @netanyahu pledged to authorize illegal West Bank setter outposts should the results of the March 23 election allow him to create a right-wing government. #Israel | #Elections | #IsraElex4
Report by @tovahlazaroff https://t.co/mlcv7n4w5K
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) March 15, 2021
Netanyahu said:
“I swear to you: If I create a strong right-wing government without a rotation, I will take care of the settlements and the authorisation of the young settlements [outposts].”
According to the left-wing group Peace Now, about 15 West Bank outposts have been legalized as new neighborhoods of existing settlements while Netanyahu has been in office, while another ten are in the process of legalization.
The Biden administration in the US has voiced opposition to Israel’s settlement expansion.
“The Prime Minister’s statement to work to legitimize young settlements is an important step in correcting the great injustice done to the thousands of residents of the settlements who the state encouraged to settle the land but did not support properly once they had,” the Young Settlement Forum responded.
Israel's Netanyahu promises to legalise settlement outposts if re-elected – https://t.co/EclLUsE4KV on @The_newarab #Palestine pic.twitter.com/ZEf97XP3xl
— al whit (@soitiz) March 15, 2021
“We will judge politicians not by what they promise, but by what they deliver,” the Forum added.
Although Israeli authorities make a distinction between authorized settlements and unauthorized, or illegal outposts, all such endeavors in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
