Sa’ar: Israel ‘strongly rejects’ international condemnation of settlement expansion

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says in a statement that Israel rejects the criticism levelled at it by 14 countries earlier today over a major expansion of West Bank settlements.

“Israel strongly rejects the statement issued by foreign countries regarding the Cabinet decision on settlements in Judea and Samaria,” Sa’ar says, using the government’s preferred term for the West Bank. “Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews.”

On Sunday, the government formally announced that 11 new settlements would be established in the West Bank, along with the legalization or recognition of eight illegal outposts and neighborhoods of existing settlements as new official settlements.

The statement by the group of countries earlier today, including the UK, Germany, France, Japan and Canada, stated their “clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies.” Most countries consider the settlements a violation of international law, a stance Israel rejects.

Sa’ar says the expansion “is intended, among other things, to help address the security threats Israel is facing,” and that it accords with international law.

Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.