The Israeli security cabinet has approved the construction of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, these settlements are illegal.
The cabinet held a secret vote last week, writes The Times of Israel. The motion was reportedly submitted by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The construction of 22 settlements was approved in that vote, confirms the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Existing settlements must also be approved. The new settler villages should be used to strengthen the Israeli presence along the route between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Part of that runs over the West Bank.
According to Smotrich, the decision contributes to the seizure of the area, where mainly Palestinians live. The Yesha Council, a Jewish umbrella organization in the West Bank, also praises the approval. “We are not only here to stay, but also to establish the State of Israel here and to strengthen its security,” said Yesha Council Chairman Israel Ganz.
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank has been an issue for some time. Research from 2023 and 2024 showed that the Israeli authorities have appropriated an area of 24 square kilometers. That is an area the size of the city of Delft. It also appeared that Israel is building a network of infrastructure.
Settlements are illegal
According to the UN, the settlements are illegal. The attitude and actions of the Israeli government would encourage settlers to commit violence. Researchers also spoke of “systematic discrimination, segregation and oppression” of the Palestinian residents of the area.
An estimated 737,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, between 2.7 million Palestinians. “That Israel is transferring parts of its own civilian population to occupied territory amounts to a war crime,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk in a statement.
2:23