Name: Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank
Uploaded: 2025-08-15T04:11:16.441Z
Duration: 2 min 15 s
Description: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Jerusalem

The U.S-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages.

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Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the advancement of plans to construct more than 3,000 homes in the E1 area, a controversial region whose development could divide the West Bank and sever its connection to East Jerusalem. Smotrich stated that this move is a direct response to international efforts to recognize a Palestinian state, asserting that such recognition is baseless.

The decision has been met with strong opposition from Palestinian officials, who reject any partition or annexation of Palestinian land. Western nations, including Canada, the UK, France, and Australia, have recently moved to recognize a Palestinian state and have voiced opposition to the E1 settlement plan. Canada had previously sanctioned Smotrich for incitement of violence and reiterated its opposition to the settlement expansion, though final approval for the project could be imminent.

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smoltrish provoked a political storm. Whoever in the world is trying to recognize a Palestinian state, he said, will receive our answer on the ground. Furthering plans to build more than 3,000 homes in a controversial E1 area which would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem. It buries the idea of a Palestinian state, said Smoltrish, because there's nothing to recognize and no one to recognize. Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine. A swipe at Canada, the UK, France and Australia who recently moved to recognize a Palestinian state in September. In Ramallah, strong rebuke. Our reaction is we refuse it profusely, profusely. We do not accept any kind of partition or any kind of annexation of any meter in Palestine. At a bazaar in Hebron, this Palestinian said it's a pattern. Because if we look at the future and we see this, you know, Smoltrish and Ben-Gvir and his government statements, we see that their plan is to kick us out, they said it clearly, but also it makes us see that we don't have a future here and that's what they exactly want us to see. While the war rages in Gaza, drawing much of the world's attention, expansion of Israeli settlements has grown in the occupied West Bank, wedged between Palestinian towns. Smoltrish is able to push these steps and to promote his policies because there are no consequences. So if Israeli policymakers don't face consequences for this huge violation of international law, then it will go ahead. Canada sanctioned Minister Smoltrish last June for what it said were repeated incitements of violence in Palestinian communities. And last month, it said it opposed advancing E1 settlement. But final approval could come next week. Susan Ormiston, CBC News, Jerusalem.

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Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

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