Israel's Netanyahu promises to legalise settlement outposts if re-elected
Israel's Netanyahu promises to legalise settlement outposts if re-elected
The Israeli premier hopes to attract right-wing voters to form a majority in Israel's Knesset.
2 min read
There are 165 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank [Getty]
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Sunday to legalise settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank if he is re-elected later this month.
Netanyahu is hoping to attract right-wing voters and shore up a majority that his Likud party failed to achieve in the country's three prior elections that have taken place over the past two years.
"I swear to you: If I create a strong right-wing government without a rotation, I will take care of the settlements and the authorisation of the young settlements," he said during a visit to a settlement outpost in the West Bank.
Outposts, or "young settlements" as Netanyahu referred to them, are settlements that are considered illegal by Israeli authorities.
Larger settlements that are recognised by Israel are still considered illegal under international law. Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in 1967.
The Israeli premier had previously promised to authorise the illegal settlement outposts, of which there are some 165 in the occupied West Bank.
Around a third of those outposts were built during Netanyahu's eight-year tenure as prime minister.
More than a dozen outposts have been legalised during that time, according to Peace Now.
Efforts to legalise the remaining outposts were blocked by Benny Gantz, the Blue and White chairman who has served as alternate prime minister and defence minister since last year.
Israelis will go the polls on 23 March, the fourth election in two years.
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Netanyahu is hoping to attract right-wing voters and shore up a majority that his Likud party failed to achieve in the country's three prior elections that have taken place over the past two years.
"I swear to you: If I create a strong right-wing government without a rotation, I will take care of the settlements and the authorisation of the young settlements," he said during a visit to a settlement outpost in the West Bank.
Outposts, or "young settlements" as Netanyahu referred to them, are settlements that are considered illegal by Israeli authorities.
Larger settlements that are recognised by Israel are still considered illegal under international law. Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in 1967.
The Israeli premier had previously promised to authorise the illegal settlement outposts, of which there are some 165 in the occupied West Bank.
Around a third of those outposts were built during Netanyahu's eight-year tenure as prime minister.
More than a dozen outposts have been legalised during that time, according to Peace Now.
Efforts to legalise the remaining outposts were blocked by Benny Gantz, the Blue and White chairman who has served as alternate prime minister and defence minister since last year.
Israelis will go the polls on 23 March, the fourth election in two years.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected
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