Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he has approved the new West Bank settlement plan, known as E1, Israeli media reported, reported the "Jerusalem Post", quoted by BTA.
"The plan will bury the idea of a Palestinian state," the minister was quoted as saying.
Smotrich revealed that he will hold a press conference today, accompanied by Yesha City Council Chairman Yisrael Gantz and Maale Adumim Mayor Gai Ifrah, to further present the plan, Ynet reported.
We are talking about plans for a controversial West Bank settlement project with 3,412 homes, known as E1, which was frozen under pressure from the United States, the Jerusalem Post recalls.
The plan has been described by some as a "death blow to the two-state solution" because it effectively divides the West Bank into two parts. This would prevent the development of the metropolitan area between Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Ynet added that although Smotrich's announcement was made public, there was no official confirmation regarding the approval of the plan. The electronic media outlet noted that previous housing projects, which were heavily advertised at the time of launch, were postponed for years.
However, Smotrich said that this plan will be implemented because it is "the final nail in the coffin" of the concept of a Palestinian state.
"From the Palestinian perspective and that of the international community, this is a critical area. "Without it, the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is simply impossible," he added.