Israel has approved the legalization and expansion of 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest such move in decades, government officials announced this week according to BBC.
The decision, unveiled by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, includes the formal recognition of several outposts previously established without government authorization. Under Israeli law, these outposts will now be deemed legal, a move that is expected to significantly alter the landscape of the West Bank.
"This step strengthens the settlement enterprise and prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel," Katz stated as per BBC.
The announcement has drawn swift condemnation from Palestinian leaders and international observers. The Palestinian presidency denounced the move as a "dangerous escalation," warning that it further undermines efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, criticized the expansion, saying it will "dramatically reshape the West Bank and entrench the occupation even further."
Settlement activity remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Israel considers the settlements legal under its own laws, they are widely regarded as a violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its population into occupied territory.
Since capturing the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has established around 160 settlements, now home to approximately 700,000 Israeli Jews. The Palestinian leadership views these areas as central to the territory of a future independent state.
