Netanyahu says new Israeli gov’t to accelerate settlement building

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday pledged to accelerate settlement building in the occupied West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights.

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) will hold a special session on Thursday to grant confidence to Netanyahu’s new government.

"The Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel," Netanyahu wrote on his Telegram account on the general agenda of his government.

He clarified that he means in the term "Land of Israel" to promote settlements in "the Galilee, the Negev, the [Syrian] Golan, Judea and Samaria," in reference to the occupied West Bank.

"The government will preserve the Jewish character of the state and the heritage of Israel, as well as respect the religions and traditions of adherents of the country's religions, in accordance with the values of the Declaration of Independence," Netanyahu said.

He also said that his new government will continue to work against "Iran's nuclear program."

Netanyahu, 73, served as prime minister from 1996 to 1999, and then for 12 straight years, from 2009 to 2021.

Israeli and Palestinian estimates indicate there are about 650,000 settlers living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the West Bank, including in occupied Jerusalem.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in occupied territories are considered illegal.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar