Israel Approves 19 New Settlements in Occupied West Bank

Israel's cabinet has approved the establishment of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total number of settlements in the region to 210, up from 141 in 2022. This decision includes the re-establishment of two settlements, Kadim and Ganim, which were evacuated in 2005 during Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of settlement expansion, stated that the total number of new settlements over the past few years has reached 69, marking a new record. The cabinet's approval also retroactively legalizes some previously established settlement outposts and creates settlements on land where Palestinians had been evacuated.

The expansion of settlements, widely considered illegal under international law, has raised concerns about the viability of a future Palestinian state. The approval comes amid U.S. efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which includes a potential pathway to Palestinian statehood.

In recent months, there has been a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. During October's olive harvest, settlers launched an average of eight attacks daily, the highest since the United Nations began collecting data in 2006. The attacks continued in November, with at least 136 more incidents recorded by November 24.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed in clashes with Israeli military forces in the northern West Bank. The Israeli military stated that the individuals were killed after allegedly attacking troops.

Israel's government, dominated by far-right proponents of the settler ... continues to pursue policies that complicate the prospects for a two-state solution.