US calls far-right minister's plan to expand control of West Bank 'self-defeating'

The US State Department has rebuked comments made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on a clandestine effort to expand Israel’s civilian control of the occupied West Bank.

“We have made quite clear that settlements are counterproductive to peace, that the government of Israel’s settlement program is inconsistent with international law, and we will continue to make that clear,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said when asked about Smotrich’s comments during a press briefing.

“We will continue to make the case to [Israel] that actions like these don’t just harm the Palestinian people, but they ultimately are self-defeating. They ultimately hurt Israel’s interests and weaken Israel’s security,” Miller added.