US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken warned on Sunday that the United States would oppose the establishment of new settlements by the next Israeli government in the occupied West Bank, as Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to regain power thanks to a coalition with the extreme right.
“We will also continue to unequivocally oppose any action that jeopardizes the two-state solution, including settlement expansion, moves towards annexation of the West Bank, disruption of the historic status quo of holy places, demolitions and evictions, and incitement to violence,” the secretary of state said during an intervention with the American progressive pro-Israel group J Street.
The sometimes strained relations between Bibi and the United States
The right-wing bloc and its ultra-Orthodox and far-right allies won the majority in the Israeli legislative elections on November 1, with 64 seats out of 120, allowing Benjamin Netanyahu to begin negotiations to form a government.
During his speech on Sunday, Antony Blinken congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relations with the United States have sometimes been stormy. “We will judge the (Israeli) government by its policies and not by its individual personalities,” noted the secretary of state, however, adding that the Biden administration would work “tirelessly” to preserve a “horizon of hope” for the creation of a Palestinian state.
Settlements illegal under international law
More than 475,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank, illegal under international law, about four times more than when the Oslo Accords were signed in the 1990s that failed to lead to lasting peace. between Israelis and Palestinians.
Engaged in government negotiations, Benjamin Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement on Thursday with one of the three far-right parties, which thus obtained a key position in the development of colonization in the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 by Israel. Under this agreement, the “Religious Zionism” party notably obtains the portfolio – in rotation – of Finance, that of Immigration, as well as “functions” in the branch of the Ministry of Defense in charge of Israeli settlements in West Bank. The leader of this formation, Bezalel Smotrich, said his intention to “develop colonization”, in a joint statement with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Anger of the LGBT+ community
Benjamin Netanyahu promised during the campaign to be “the Prime Minister of all”, but another coalition agreement, with an openly homophobic far-right leader, provoked the ire of the Israeli LGBT + community in late November.
The head of the American diplomacy stressed on Sunday that the United States would insist on respect for “fundamental democratic principles, including respect for the rights of LBGT+ people and the fair administration of justice for all citizens of Israel”. Asked about this on Sunday during an interview on the American channel NBC, Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside the criticism, assuring: “I will not accept any of this. (…) At the end of the day, I will decide on the policies” put in place.
Under Israeli law, he has until December 11 to form a government but can also request a 14-day extension.