Israel has approved the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank in more than 30 years, authorising 22 new communities, including both legalised outposts and entirely new developments.
Several already exist as outposts, built without government authorisation, but will now be made legal under Israeli law. Others are completely new, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The settlements, considered illegal under international law, a stance Israel rejects, remain one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel’s actions are widely seen as violating the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territories.
Katz said the move “prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel,” while the Palestinian presidency called it a “dangerous escalation.”
The Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now called it “the most extensive move of its kind” in more than 30 years and warned that it would “dramatically reshape the West Bank and entrench the occupation even further.”
Katz said the decision was a “strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel, and serves as a buffer against our enemies.”
“This is a Zionist, security, and national response and a clear decision on the future of the country,” he added.
Smotrich called it a “once-in-a-generation decision” and declared, “Next step sovereignty!”
But a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who governs parts of the West Bank not under full Israeli control called it a “dangerous escalation” and accused Israel of continuing to drag the region into a “cycle of violence and instability.”
“This extremist Israeli government is trying by all means to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Reuters news agency.
Lior Amihai, director of Peace Now, said, “The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.”
Elisha Ben Kimon, an Israeli journalist with the popular Ynet news site who covers the West Bank and settlements, had mentioned that 70% to 80% of ministers wanted to declare the formal annexation of the West Bank.
“I think that Israel is a few steps from declaring this area as Israeli territory.
“They believe that this period will never be coming back, this is one opportunity that they don’t want to slip from their hands that’s why they’re doing this now,” Mr Ben Kimon said.
Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in a move not recognised by the vast majority of the international community.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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