Spain condemns Israel's approval to build nearly 3,500 new homes in West Bank settlements

The Spanish government “strongly” condemned an Israeli organization's approval to build nearly 3,500 new homes in West Bank settlements and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel the measure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that “settlements contradict international law, undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution, and constitute an obstacle to peace.” Israel's National Planning and Building Council has given the “green light” for the construction of 3,476 settlement housing units in the West Bank, most of them in Ma'ale Adumim, the first such measure since June 2023, even though the settlements are illegal under international law. The decision was welcomed by the far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – who also heads the aforementioned committee responsible for building permits – who in turn confirmed that the authorities “are continuing to build the country.” The National Planning and Construction Council has not met since June 2023 due to the conflict that erupted after the attacks carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7, which led to an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. The European Union also condemned Israel's settlement plans in the West Bank, also stating that they are “illegal under international law and represent an obstacle to peace, as they threaten the two-state solution.” International law considers settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal, although Israel distinguishes between those it has allowed and those it has not, despite ongoing international criticism. The Palestinian Authority has denounced on numerous occasions that expanding these settlements and transferring residents to them makes the two-state solution difficult, and has called for international action to put an end to this practice by Israel.