Israel Defies 14 Nations, Rejects West Bank Settlement Reversal Call

• Israel rejected a joint appeal from 14 countries to reverse its approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
• Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated foreign governments will not restrict Jews' right to live in the Land of Israel, calling the demands "morally wrong and discriminatory."
• The Israeli security cabinet approved 11 new settlements and plans to formalize 8 more in Judea and Samaria, citing security considerations.
• The 14 nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, condemned the move as an "intensification of settlement policy" violating international law and destabilizing the region.
• Sa’ar defended Israel's actions with historical and legal arguments, also criticizing Palestinian Authority's "illegal construction" in Area C.

Why It Matters: Israel firmly rejects international pressure to halt West Bank settlement expansion, citing security and historical rights.