Published: 14:41, February 27, 2023 | Updated: 17:29, February 27, 2023
Israeli minister says 'no' to West Bank settlement freeze
By Reuters

A picture taken from the Palestinian village of Aqraba shows the Israeli settlement outpost of Gevat Arnon, near Nablus city in the southern occupied West Bank, on Feb 14, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

JERUSALEM - Israel's far-right finance minister said on Sunday he would not agree to any freeze in settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli officials committed during a summit in Jordan to hold off on such construction in the coming months.

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"I have no idea what they spoke about or not in Jordan," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has responsibilities over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

"But one thing I do know: there will not be a freeze on the building and development in settlements, not even for one day (it is under my authority)," he wrote on Twitter.