Israel has declared that it will halt new settlement construction in the occupied West Bank for "the coming months.". .
The action seems to be the result of secret negotiations between the US and Israeli and Palestinian officials.
It happens at a time when Palestinian leaders are facing intense backlash for consenting to the retraction of a UN Security Council resolution on settlements. .
Instead, in a symbolic statement, the council expressed its "deep concern and dismay" over recent events.
The legalization of nine illegal outposts and the planning and construction of almost 10,000 new homes in established settlements were both announced by Israel last week.
It is unlikely that these actions will be undone.
Israel, the United States' closest ally in the Middle East, had previously been publicly cautioned by Washington not to permit new settlements.
Although Israel disputes this, the settlements are regarded as unlawful under international law.
The US joined other European governments, including France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, in expressing "deeply troubled" following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier announcement regarding settlements.
However, it added that it was "unhelpful" when the Palestinians went on to draft a Security Council resolution, which the United Arab Emirates would then present.
Reaffirming "that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law," the resolution would have been adopted.
If the US had been compelled, as it has frequently in the past, to use its veto power at the Security Council to defend Israel, it would have been embarrassing. .
The UAE informed the council that it would not request a vote and gave the reason of "positive talks between the partners" and that its president would instead issue a statement. .
These declarations represent consensus but are not enforceable in court.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the group that officially represents the Palestinians at the UN, has not made any public remarks. Officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA), which, like the PLO, is led by President Mahmoud Abbas and in charge of some West Bank territory, have also not been present.
According to rumors, Israel agreed to stop evicting Palestinians and stop demolishing their homes in exchange for dropping the draft resolution.
Palestinians frequently build without permits in areas under Israeli control, claiming that they are nearly impossible to obtain. Israel views such structures as illegal and has recently stepped up its efforts to demolish them, which has only served to exacerbate already high tensions.
The likelihood of violence in the upcoming months has drawn widespread concern from members of the international community. .
There is a greater chance of clashes at contentious holy sites, especially in East Jerusalem, because the Muslim holiday of Ramadan is scheduled to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Passover in April.
The Fatah party, which controls the PLO and PA, has drawn criticism from its political adversaries for choosing not to proceed with the UN vote. .
Gaza's government, Hamas, an islamist militant group, claimed that its actions were contrary to popular opinion.
The PA appears to be insisting on purchasing illusion from the US administrations and occupation [Israeli] governments, which does not reflect the spirit of the Palestinian people, according to a spokesman, Hazem Qassem.
Mustafa Barghouti, the leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party, told the BBC that the course of events suited Washington's objectives.
"The US can now maintain its hypocrisy by referring to a two-state solution while claiming to be against settlement construction. They observe as Israel continues to build settlements, he said, how it will eventually be destroyed.
Some Palestinians accused Palestinian leaders of working with the Israeli occupation on social media, including Twitter user Yessar, who claimed to be a doctor.
In the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem—all areas that Israel occupied during the Middle East War of 1967—the Palestinians want to establish an independent Palestinian state. .
The two-state solution, a tried-and-true peace formula backed by the entire world, is based on this.
Israel claims a security need and biblical ties to the land as justifications for establishing 140 Jewish settlements there since 1967. Additionally, dozens of outposts have been destroyed or ignored over the years.