Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has announced plans to build 3,400 new housing units in a settlement near occupied East Jerusalem, stating that it would hinder the establishment of a Palestinian state. The move comes as several countries, including Australia and Britain, have pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Smotrich said the plan would “bury the idea of a Palestinian state” and implied that recognition by other nations would be met with resistance from Israel on the ground. This statement has sparked concerns about the prospects of a two-state solution, which has been widely touted as a potential resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, also dismissed the idea of recognizing Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution in an interview. He argued that it was a “slogan” with no real-world application, and that Israel had already tried the route without success.
The approval of this plan marks a significant development in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and raises questions about the future of the Middle East peace process.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/world/middleeast/israel-smotrich-settlements-palestinian-state.html