Israel to Establish 22 New Settlements in Occupied West Bank, Sparking Widespread Condemnation
The Israeli government has announced plans to establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes the formal legalization of several previously unauthorized settler outposts, as per Al Jazeera.
The decision was revealed on Thursday by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom emphasized its strategic significance in consolidating Israeli control over the area.
Katz described the expansion as a measure to “strengthen our hold on Judea and Samaria,” a term used by Israeli authorities to refer to the West Bank. He also claimed it was a step to block the formation of a Palestinian state. Smotrich, a long-time advocate of Israeli annexation of the West Bank and a settler himself, hailed the move as a “historic decision.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party echoed these sentiments, calling it a “once-in-a-generation decision” aimed at reinforcing Israel’s eastern border with Jordan.
Currently, over 100 settlements—considered illegal under international law—exist across the occupied West Bank, housing more than 500,000 Israeli settlers. These settlements vary in size and development, ranging from small outposts to fully developed communities with modern infrastructure.
The West Bank is home to more than three million Palestinians who live under Israeli military occupation. While the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-governance in certain areas, the majority of the territory remains under Israeli control. Palestinians regard the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem and Gaza, as essential components of a future independent state.
Palestinian leaders and human rights organizations have strongly condemned the Israeli decision. Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh described it as a “dangerous escalation” and a “challenge to international legitimacy,” asserting that the move violates UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which declares all Israeli settlement activity in occupied territory illegal.
Other Palestinian and international actors warned the decision would deepen the fragmentation of Palestinian land and further undermine hopes for a two-state solution.
The announcement also drew criticism from Israeli civil society. The NGO Peace Now warned the move would reshape the geography of the West Bank and solidify long-term occupation, calling it the largest single approval of settlements in recent history. The organization accused the Israeli government of prioritizing annexation over peace.
This development comes ahead of a high-profile international conference, jointly organized by France and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations, aimed at reviving talks for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
