Israel's Gantz approves 1,700 illegal settlements as possible elections loom

Benny Gantz is pushing forward the approval of 1,700 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.

2 min read

11 November, 2020

Israeli settlements are illegal [Getty]

Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Security Minister Benny Gantz is en route to approving 1,700 settlement units in the occupied West Bank as the prospect of new elections looms.

According to a Wednesday report by Yediot Aharonot, the move appears linked to Gantz trying to satisfy the demands of Israeli settlers ahead of a possible new election, with a potential competition betweem his Blue and White Party and Likud for the right-wing vote.

Israel is seeking a loophole in current property market regulations that will allow for the sale of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank if the buyer claims to not know who the original owner is.

The move comes just hours after Gantz threatened new elections if a coalition government between his Blue and White Party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud cannot be decided on.

"Elections are not what is needed for the State of Israel," Gantz told reporters on Tuesday night.

"We joined the government to prevent elections during a crisis. To avoid elections, a budget and functional government are needed. If these conditions are met, elections will not be needed. If these conditions are not met, apparently yes, we will need them."

Settlements are often a contentious issue during election time with Israeli right-wing parties often pandering to settlers in the occupied West Bank to win more votes.