Israel has approved the construction of 764 new homes in three Jewish settlements located in the occupied West Bank. This decision is anticipated to escalate tensions, with a watchdog group accusing the Israeli government of moving closer to a “de facto annexation” of the Palestinian territory.
The Higher Planning Council, responsible for settlement construction plans in the West Bank, has given the green light for 478, 230, and 56 housing units in the Hashmonaim, Beitar Illit, and Givat Ze’ev settlements, respectively. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is both a settler and the formulator of settlement policy, described the council’s move as a strategic effort to bolster settlements and ensure their growth and security.
Since assuming his position, Smotrich revealed that a total of 51,370 housing units have been approved in the West Bank. Despite being considered illegal under international law by most of the global community, the settlements have faced opposition from the United Nations Security Council through multiple resolutions against their expansion.
In response to the approval, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the decision, attributing it to a settlement policy that aims to incite conflict in the region. He urged the Trump administration to pressure Israel to halt the expansion of settlements to support stability in the area.
A watchdog group, Peace Now, criticized the Israeli government for rapidly moving towards de facto annexation of the West Bank. The group highlighted that the approval of 764 additional housing units is part of a concerning trend of increasing settlement approvals, describing it as an unjust practice that could lead to significant consequences when Israel is required to evacuate the settlements.
This decision follows a recent revelation that Israel plans to seize portions of a key historic site in the West Bank. The Israeli government has faced criticism for accelerating settlement expansion in the region, a move perceived by Palestinians and rights groups as an impediment to the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
The West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, areas claimed by Palestinians for a prospective state, were captured by Israel during the 1967 war. With over 500,000 Jewish settlers residing in the West Bank and more than 200,000 in contested East Jerusalem, Israel’s government, led by proponents of the settler movement, is accused of pursuing policies that hinder the creation of a Palestinian state.
The surge in settler expansion has been accompanied by a rise in attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. During the recent olive harvest season, settlers launched an average of eight attacks daily across the region, the highest number recorded since data collection began in 2006. These attacks continued into November, with the UN documenting at least 136 incidents by November 24, including the burning of cars, desecration of mosques, and destruction of property.
Overall, Israel’s settlement policies and expansion in the West Bank have sparked international concern and condemnation, with the situation remaining a key point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
