CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Thursday condemned Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's approval of plans to build 3,401 new housing units for settlers in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the move reflected the Israeli government's determination to expand its seizure of Palestinian land and alter the demographic character of the occupied territories.
It called the decision a "blatant violation and flagrant breach" of international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and international conventions.
The ministry also condemned Smotrich's "extremist" remarks advocating the imposition of Israeli "sovereignty" and settlement expansion in the West Bank. Such statements, it said, are a fresh indication of Israeli "deviance and arrogance," and warned that actions of this nature will not bring security or stability to the region -- including Israel -- so long as the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people are ignored.
It cautioned Israel against being swayed by "delusional beliefs" about liquidating the Palestinian cause and realizing a so-called "Greater Israel," and reiterated that there is no alternative to implementing the two-state solution and establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions to achieve regional peace and security.
On Wednesday, Smotrich said he had approved the construction of 3,401 housing units for settlers in a particularly controversial area of the occupied West Bank.
Smotrich, leader of a pro-settler party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, said the move was also aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The homes would be built in the E1 area, a stretch of land east of Jerusalem between the city and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. Construction there is considered especially contentious because it would effectively cut off East Jerusalem from the northern West Bank. Building plans in E1 have been frozen for years, largely due to international opposition. ■
