Israel approves construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank

By Abby Chitty with AP

Published connected 29/05/2025 - 19:10 GMT+2•Updated 19:33

Israel says it plans to build 22 caller settlements successful nan occupied West Bank, a move that includes formally recognising a number of unauthorised outposts already constructed without Israeli authorities approval.

The Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now reports that nan scheme involves legalising 12 existing outposts, constructing 9 caller settlements, and designating a neighbourhood wrong an existing colony arsenic an independent settlement.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said nan caller colony inaugural "reinforces our sovereignty complete Judea and Samaria," utilizing Israel's biblical reference for nan West Bank.

He described nan determination arsenic a strategical measurement to "solidify our humanities rights" and arsenic a "firm consequence to Palestinian terrorism."

Gallant further claimed that colony description helps artifact nan statement of a Palestinian state, which he said would airs a information threat to Israel.

Peace Now criticised nan move arsenic nan astir sweeping since nan 1993 Oslo Accords, which had laid nan groundwork for a now-stalled bid process.

The group warned that nan determination would reshape nan scenery of nan West Bank and deepen nan Israeli occupation.

The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel successful nan 1967 Six Day War - are cardinal to Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

Approximately 3 cardinal Palestinians unrecorded successful nan West Bank, nether a strategy of Israeli subject power and constricted Palestinian Authority governance.

Peace Now accused nan Israeli authorities of abandoning immoderate pretence of pursuing a two-state solution.

"The authorities is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening nan business and advancing de facto annexation complete pursuing peace," nan group stated.

The West Bank presently hosts complete 500,000 Israeli settlers surviving successful much than 100 settlements, ranging from humble outposts to ample towns pinch modern infrastructure.

Most of nan world organization position Israeli settlements location arsenic forbidden and an obstacle to resolving nan decades-old conflict.

Despite this, Israel has accelerated colony building successful caller years and has, since nan outbreak of warfare successful Gaza, escalated location demolitions and onshore seizures successful nan territory, forcing galore Palestinians families to evacuate.

Expansion has steadily constricted Palestinian mobility and entree to land, making nan viability of a early Palestinian authorities progressively unlikely.

Under President Donald Trump, US argumentation shifted sharply successful support of Israeli claims complete occupied territories, including steps to legitimise settlements.

Although President Joe Biden had voiced guidance to colony growth, his management refrained from applying important unit connected Israel to extremity nan practice.

The apical United Nations tribunal ruled past twelvemonth that Israel's beingness successful nan occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called connected it to end, and for colony building to extremity immediately.

Israel denounced nan non-binding sentiment by a 15-judge sheet of nan International Court of Justice, saying nan territories are portion of nan historical homeland of nan Jewish people.