🔗 Share this article Israel Approves Nineteen Additional Settlements in Disputed West Bank Hardline Treasury Chief Bezalel Smotrich, a West Bank settler himself, proposed the decision. The nation's defense cabinet has formally approved the formalization of nineteen new communities in the occupied Palestinian territories, signaling a sustained push for settlement expansion. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler who put forward the measure in concert with Defence Minister Israel Katz, stated that the decision was about thwarting the creation of a Palestinian state. Under international law, Jewish communities in the occupied West Bank are considered in violation of international law. The move has elicited criticism from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has commented that Israel's "unceasing" settlement expansion fuels tensions, restricts Palestinians' access to territory, and threatens the viability of a sovereign Palestine. Escalating Tensions and Political Repercussions Clashes in the region has surged since the hostilities in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, intensifying fears that the growth of communities could solidify the Israeli presence and damage the possibility for a peaceful resolution based on two states. The concept of two states envisions the creation of a State of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Jerusalem's eastern sector as its capital, roughly along the boundaries that existed before the 1967 Middle East war. Since taking office in 2022, the incumbent government in Jerusalem has significantly increased the authorization of new settlements and begun the process of legalization for unauthorised outposts, designating them as "suburbs" of existing communities. Ongoing Growth The latest decision pushes the total number of settlements recognized over the past three years to sixty-nine, as stated by the Finance Minister. These authorizations are announced a short time after the UN said that construction in settlements had attained its highest level since the year 2017. The latest batch of authorizations includes the revival of a pair of settlements — Ganim and Kadim — which were dismantled about two decades ago. Previously, the Israeli government gave the nod to 22 additional settlements in the occupied West Bank - described as the largest wave of approvals in decades. Additionally, the Israeli government sanctioned projects last summer to erect in excess of 3,000 homes in the controversial E1 project between the capital and the Maale Adumim settlement, a initiative that had been stalled for decades amid strong foreign condemnation. On that occasion, the Finance Minister stated it would "put to rest the idea of a Palestinian state." Population Facts and Global Response Approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers live in about one hundred and sixty settlements in the occupied territories, as per data from the Israel-based anti-settlement group Peace Now. This is land that the Palestinian people envision for a future sovereign nation. This ongoing construction has drawn ire from neighboring countries who have consistently said it undermines hopes for a two-state solution. It has also fueled anxieties about the potential formal annexation of the occupied West Bank. Ex- US President Donald Trump had once warned the Israeli leadership about annexation, stating to TIME magazine that the country would lose its backing from the United States if it happened. In a diplomatic shift, the UK - along with other nations such as Australia and Canada - formally recognized a Palestinian state, a significant although primarily ceremonial shift in government policy. Israel was against this step, with PM Benjamin Netanyahu saying that a sovereign Palestine "is off the table."