Israel Approves 22 New Settlements in West Bank, Marking Largest Expansion in Decades
Israel has approved the legalization of 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the most significant settlement expansion in decades, according to senior government officials.
Announced by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the move grants official recognition under Israeli law to several outposts that were previously considered illegal, even by the Israeli government.
The newly approved communities will now be fully incorporated into Israel’s settlement infrastructure in the West Bank.
“This historic step strengthens Israel’s hold on the land and prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger our security,” said Minister Smotrich.
The Palestinian Authority swiftly condemned the announcement, calling it a “dangerous escalation” that undermines any prospect for a two-state solution. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that the expansion would only deepen tensions in an already volatile region.
The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now criticized the move, stating that it would “dramatically reshape the West Bank and entrench the occupation further,” warning of long-term geopolitical consequences.
The international community widely considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this interpretation. Settlements have long been one of the thorniest obstacles in efforts to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Since capturing the territory during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has established around 160 settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Today, these areas are home to more than 700,000 Israeli settlers, living among approximately 3 million Palestinians who seek the land as part of a future independent state.
This latest expansion is expected to draw strong reactions from the global community, including key allies such as the United States and the European Union, both of which have consistently opposed unilateral settlement activity as counterproductive to peace efforts.
