Israel to build additional 3000 houses in ‘West Bank’, as announced by Israel’s Defense Ministry

Jerusalem : Ignoring the criticism of the European nations, Israel has announced its decision to build three thousand more homes in the ‘West Bank’ region of Palestine for the Jewish settlers. This is the third decision taken by Israel in the course of last two weeks, of building settlements for the Jewish refugees. Protests have started in the West Bank region post this announcement by Israel. The US President Donald Trump had declared earlier that his role would be a refraining one on these construction plans of Israel.

The work of constructing settlements in ‘Judea’ and ‘Samaria’ areas in the West Bank will soon be started was informed by Israel’s Defense Ministry. There were clashes for the last few days in these two cities between Israeli protestors and the Palestine citizens. However, after the action taken by the Israel Police, tensions in these cities subsided. In this context, the Israel’s Defense Ministry announced late on Tuesday, that building of settlements in more than fourteen locations in these cities would be started.

Prior to this, the Court had taken an objection to Israel’s Government’s decision of constructing houses in the ‘Amona‘ region in the West Bank. The Court had also ordered demolition of these settlements. For this the Israel Government had agreed to provide houses to the refugees from Amona in the West Bank itself. Constructing three thousand houses in the West Bank is a part of the same commitment, was the clarification given by the Defense Ministry of Israel. The Defense Minister, Avigdor Liberman also declared that the Government will meet all the needs of the Israeli refugees.

After this decision, Israel’s Security machinery instructed that the Palestinians in those areas should vacate within 48 hours. Two battalions of the Israeli Army have entered in these two cities. After this decision of the Israel’s Defense Ministry, Palestinian youths started demonstrations from Tuesday night. These protesting youths have decided to oppose the expulsion of the Palestinians from the area in a peaceful manner. However, some protesters resorted to arson hence triggering fears of violence in the area.

Last week itself, Israel had announced constructing more than 2500 houses in the West Bank. Ten days back Government had given approval for the construction of 566 houses in Jerusalem. European nations too expressed anxiety over this confrontative decision taken by Israel. The peace talks between Israel and Palestine would be endangered by this aggressive stance, these European nations are indicating.

However, Trump’s Government in US has decided to take a tolerant role over the construction of settlements by Israel. Trump declared, that the decisions taken by US, during Obama’s term, against Israel over the construction of settlements would not be permanent and his Government would stand by Israel. Trump also made it clear that he would take a persuasive role in the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Next week itself, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit US on an official trip and meet President Trump of US.