Israel Approves 19 New Jewish Settlements in Occupied West Bank Amid Rising Violence
Israel's security cabinet has approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, raising the total number of new settlements established in recent years to 69 and bringing the overall tally of West Bank settlements to approximately 210, according to the monitoring group Peace Now.
The approval includes the retroactive legalization of some settlement outposts and land that was previously evacuated in 2005 during Israel's Gaza disengagement. Among the newly legalized settlements are Kadim and Ganim, which were dismantled in 2005. Notably, a 2005 act that authorized re-entry to these areas was repealed in March 2023.
This expansion of settlements comes amidst a surge in settler violence in the West Bank. In October alone, there was an average of eight settler attacks per day, and at least 136 additional attacks have been recorded by November 24, involving damage to cars, mosques, and cropland.
These developments have occurred while the United States is advocating for a second phase of a Gaza ceasefire and exploring a potential pathway toward a Palestinian state. The settlement expansion is widely seen as undermining these diplomatic efforts.
The Palestinian health ministry reported that two Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank on Saturday. Among those killed was 16-year-old Rayan Abu Muallah. Another man identified as Ahmad Ziyoud, aged 22, was also reported killed.
Concurrently, the Israeli military stated that militants were killed in incidents in Qabatiya, following a block thrown at troops, and in Silat al-Harithiya, after explosives were hurled. The Qabatiya incident is currently under review.
International law regards the West Bank settlements as illegal, making this latest move by Israel a point of significant international concern.
