December 5 According to an AFP report in Washington on December 4, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned on the 4th that the United States would oppose the next Israeli government to establish new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is preparing to return to power through an alliance with the far right.
“We will also continue to unequivocally oppose any action that threatens the two-state solution, especially the expansion of settlements, measures intended to annex the West Bank, the destruction of the historical status quo of holy places, dismantlement and expulsion, and incitement to violence.” Blinken said in a speech to the American pro-Israeli progressive group J Street.
It is reported that on November 1, the right-wing group and its ultra-orthodox and far-right allies won a majority of seats in the Knesset election, occupying 64 of the 120 seats, allowing Netanyahu to start negotiations to form a government.
During the negotiations, Netanyahu signed a joint agreement with one of the three far-right parties on December 1, who obtained key positions in settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Bizarle Smotriech, chairman of the far-right religious Zionist Party, said in a joint communiqué with Netanyahu that he intended to “develop settlements”.
