Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has issued a strong rejection of criticism from fourteen countries regarding Israel's recent decision to expand settlements in the West Bank. Sa'ar emphasized that foreign governments should not dictate where Jews can live in the Land of Israel, calling such criticism discriminatory and morally wrong. The government recently announced plans to establish eleven new settlements and to legalize or recognize eight outposts and neighborhoods as official settlements. While many countries view these actions as violations of international law, Israel maintains that the expansion is both legal and necessary for addressing security concerns.