Palestinian foreign ministry condemns Smotrich over proposed new settlements

The Palestinian foreign ministry has condemned “in the strongest terms” plans by Israel’s far-right minister of finance, Bezalel Smotrich, for promoting the deepening of Jewish settlements.

“Ending the occupation and the Palestinian people’s attainment of their national rights is the only way to achieve security and stability on the Palestinian and Israeli sides,” a ministry statement said.

“We call for the imposition of deterrent international sanctions on the leaders of the Israeli extreme right for boasting of violating international law and inciting violence."

Smotrich, who is also in charge of the Israeli governing body that operates in the West Bank, has been pushing for the approval of thousands of more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.