UPDATE: Israel’s cabinet has just approved a controversial plan to establish 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that escalates tensions in the region. Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, a proponent of aggressive settlement expansion, confirmed the decision, marking a significant construction surge that raises the total number of new settlements to 69 in recent years.
This approval is set to increase the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50 percent during the current government’s tenure. Following the latest announcement, the number of settlements has risen from 141 in 2022 to 210, according to data from Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog organization. Settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law, complicating the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The timing of this decision is critical as it coincides with efforts by the United States to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 10, 2023. The U.S.-brokered plan aims to establish a possible “pathway” to a Palestinian state, a goal that settlement activities are seen to undermine.
The cabinet’s decision also includes retroactive legalization of previously established settlement outposts, including Kadim and Ganim, which were dismantled in 2005. The finance ministry asserts that these settlements will occupy land from which Palestinians were removed, further intensifying tensions.
In response to the escalating situation, the Israeli military has ramped up operations in the West Bank, leading to violent confrontations. Recently, two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were reported killed during clashes with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank, underscoring the violent backdrop against which this settlement approval unfolds.
Meanwhile, the religious community remains active amid the turmoil. On the same day as the cabinet decision, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, visited the Gaza Strip’s only Catholic church to celebrate a pre-Christmas Mass. During his visit, he emphasized the resilience of the Christian community, stating, “I saw the new desire for a new life,” despite the ongoing destruction around them.
As tensions rise in the West Bank, international observers and human rights groups will likely monitor the implications of this settlement expansion closely. The next steps in this evolving situation could significantly impact the broader peace process and the lives of those living in the region.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
