Israel will establish nearly twenty-two new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that ministers call "historic" but is likely to increase international condemnation of the country.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced 22 entire settlements throughout the West Bank, the largest expansion in years. They said this was a "decisive response" to the Palestinian armed forces and a route on the road to completely annexation of the territory.
Katz said in a statement that it was “a strategic move that would endanger the establishment of the Palestinian state that would endanger Israel and serve as a buffer against our enemies. It was a Zionist, security and nation’s response – and a clear decision on the future of the country.”
Most of the international community believe that Israeli settlements are illegal, and that the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip are seen as the basis for future Palestinian states.
Since the capture of territory during the Arab-Israel War in 1967, only nearly 500,000 Jewish Israelis have settled in the West Bank, with about 350 settlements and smaller outposts and farms.
About 3MN Palestinians live in Israeli military rule and part of Palestinian autonomy.
As part of the move, Israel will rebuild two settlements in the northern West Bank, which was demolished by the former Israeli government in 2005, which Katz and Smotrich called "repairing historic injustice."
The ruling coalition government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is widely regarded as the most right-wing government in Israeli history, with several super-largeists (such as Smotrich) serving in key cabinet positions that had a significant impact on reconciliation policies.
Analysts expect several distant outposts, even Israeli law, to be considered illegal – will be authorized as part of a new move, as well as part of a brand new settlement in strategic locations that will threaten the feasibility of any future Palestinian state.
International pressure on Israel has risen sharply this month, mainly due to humanitarian disasters in the Palestinian enclave after nearly 20 months of the war in the Gaza war.
Governments, including Britain, Germany and Italy, have become more voiced when demanding Netanyahu to end the war after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Some European countries threaten economic, diplomatic and military sanctions on Israel, while others consider recognizing the Palestinian state. They also remained opposed to the construction of new West Bank settlements and condemned the increasingly rude attacks of Israeli settlers on Palestinians.
Britain, France and Canada sent a joint letter last week condemning the Israeli government’s “serious” actions in Gaza and warned that they would take “specific actions” if they did not stop their reissued military offensive and allow adequate aid to enter the territory.
Later, the UK had a discussion on a new free trade agreement with Israel, and the EU said it was “reevaluating” the key association agreements signed with Israel. The letter also warned that “any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank” and that the three states threatened “further action, including targeted sanctions.”