May 29 – In a controversial move likely to heighten tensions with international partners, Israel has approved the construction of 22 additional Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday, a figure known for his firm right-wing stance and strong support for extending Israeli control over the disputed territory.
According to Smotrich, these new settlements are to be established in the northern part of the West Bank. Although he did not provide precise coordinates or a detailed blueprint, the decision marks a significant escalation in settlement activity. Reports indicate that the plan includes the formal legalization of previously unauthorized outposts as well as the foundation of entirely new communities.
This development comes at a critical moment. Israel is already under increased diplomatic scrutiny due to its ongoing military actions in Gaza, now well into their second year. The fresh wave of settlement approvals risks straining relationships with key Western allies. Recently, countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and France issued warnings that continued settlement expansion could lead to direct sanctions.
Currently, approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers live across East Jerusalem and the West Bank, areas seized by Israel during the 1967 conflict. Although East Jerusalem has been annexed by Israel—a move unrecognized by most of the world—the West Bank has remained under a more complex administrative and military structure without formal annexation. Nevertheless, Israel has continuously expanded its presence there through housing developments and infrastructure projects.
To Palestinians, these settlements represent a direct threat to their hopes of statehood. They envision an independent state that includes both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as the capital. Expansion of Israeli communities in these areas is widely seen as undermining that goal, complicating peace talks and inflaming long-standing grievances.
Palestinian leadership quickly denounced the decision. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, criticized the settlement move as reckless and inflammatory.
“This dangerous step drags the region deeper into a cycle of violence and instability,” he stated, accusing the current Israeli administration of actively working against the possibility of a two-state solution.
Abu Rudeineh appealed to global powers, especially the United States, to take immediate action and prevent further deterioration of the situation on the ground. He warned that without firm international intervention, efforts toward long-term peace may be permanently derailed.
Condemnation also came from Hamas, with spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri labeling the settlement approvals as a deliberate attack on the Palestinian people. He urged both the European Union and the U.S. government to respond decisively and halt what he described as aggressive land grabs.
Tensions in the West Bank have been escalating for months, fueled by both Israeli military operations and rising levels of violence between settlers and Palestinian residents. Human rights organizations have documented a growing number of confrontations, many of which have ended in injury or death. In some areas, entire communities have been displaced amid rising fears of more widespread conflict.
Despite international objections and warnings, Israel’s government remains firm in its stance. Israeli officials argue that the settlements are legal under national law and are part of the country’s historical and religious heritage. While some communities—referred to as “outposts”—were originally built without formal approval, many have since been retroactively recognized by the state.
The political context inside Israel also plays a crucial role in the current policy direction. The governing coalition, supported heavily by nationalist and religious parties, has long championed settlement expansion as a core issue. Critics within Israel argue that this course risks alienating allies and pushing the nation further into isolation.
Still, for supporters of the policy, expanding settlements is not merely a political agenda—it is a matter of security and identity. They argue that Jews have the right to live in their ancestral homeland and that strategic control of the territory is vital for national defense.
With developments unfolding, the world remains attentive to what happens next. Whether the latest move leads to concrete diplomatic consequences or further entrenches divisions remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the issue of settlements continues to be one of the most contentious and emotionally charged dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.