Settlements Surge: Israel Approves 22 New Sites in Occupied West Bank
“Israel has announced plans to significantly expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that has been met with controversy and criticism from various parties. The expansion is expected to impact the region’s demographics and could potentially affect ongoing peace negotiations. The international community has raised concerns about the implications of settlement expansion on the prospects for a two-state solution.”
“Israeli ministers have approved the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest expansion in decades. The move includes retroactive authorization for existing outposts built without government approval, as well as entirely new settlements. Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the decision, which is expected to exacerbate tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
Settlements are considered a contentious issue, with the international community viewing them as illegal under international law, a stance Israel disputes. Katz defended the expansion, citing concerns about potential security threats from a Palestinian state. In contrast, the Palestinian presidency condemned the move as a “dangerous escalation.” Israeli watchdog Peace Now criticized the decision, warning it would further entrench the occupation and reshape the West Bank.”
“Israel has approved the construction of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a decision confirmed by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. This move marks a significant expansion of settlements, which have been a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since capturing the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has built approximately 160 settlements housing around 700,000 Jews, alongside an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians. The latest decision includes nine entirely new settlements, 12 outposts that will be retroactively legalized, and one settlement that will gain independence.
The new settlements are expected to be spread across the West Bank, with some located in strategic areas, including the northern region. Notably, two settlements, Homesh and Sa-Nur, were previously evacuated in 2005 but are now seeing a “historic return” as part of this expansion. Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, has criticized the move, warning it will further entrench the occupation.”
“Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have announced the approval of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Katz described the decision as a “strategic move” aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, which he believes would pose a threat to Israel’s security. Smotrich hailed the move as a “once-in-a-generation decision” and signaled plans for future annexation, stating “Next step sovereignty!”
The decision has sparked strong reactions, with a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemning it as a “dangerous escalation” that would lead to further violence and instability. Lior Amihai of Peace Now criticized the Israeli government, saying its goal is the annexation of occupied territories and expansion of settlements.
Israeli journalist Elisha Ben Kimon believes Israel is moving towards declaring the West Bank as Israeli territory, citing that 70-80% of ministers support formal annexation. He noted that the current government sees this as a unique opportunity to consolidate control over the West Bank, following Israel’s effective annexation of East Jerusalem in 1980, a move widely unrecognized by the international community.”
“The latest Israeli decision to approve 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank deals a significant blow to efforts to revive the two-state solution, a longstanding international framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The move has drawn condemnation from Jordan, which described it as a “flagrant violation of international law,” and the UK, which views it as “a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood.”
This decision is part of a broader trend under the current Israeli government, which has approved a total of 49 new settlements and initiated the legalization process for seven unauthorized outposts, according to Peace Now. The United Nations’ top court recently issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and that settlements violate international law, calling for the evacuation of all settlers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the court’s opinion, asserting that the Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land. The international community remains divided on the issue, with the latest developments likely to further complicate peace efforts, including a planned French-Saudi summit at the UN next month.”
