Israel reveals plans for 22 additional West Bank settlements
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, a move considered illegal under international law. Smotrich declared this decision as historically significant for the development of settlements in Judea and Samaria, using the Israeli term for the region, which it has occupied since 1967.
Smotrich further stated that this strategic move aims to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state that could potentially pose a threat to Israel. He concluded by saying, "Next step: sovereignty!"
The Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, characterized the move as a once-in-a-generation decision. They revealed that the initiative had been led by Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, and had been approved by the security cabinet. Moreover, the plan includes the establishment of four communities along the eastern border with Jordan, aimed at strengthening Israel's eastern backbone, national security, and strategic grip on the area.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group ruling Gaza, condemned the move as a defiance of international will and a violation of international law. Jordan, another Western ally, also harshly criticized the Israeli decision, labeling it a flagrant violation of international law that undermines prospects for peace and entrenches the occupation.
Israel has already constructed over 100 settlements across the territory, home to approximately 500,000 settlers. These settlements range from small outposts to fully developed communities with residential units, shopping malls, factories, and public parks. While the West Bank is home to 3 million Palestinian residents living under Israeli military rule with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers, the settlers hold Israeli citizenship.
The announcement comes ahead of an international conference led by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN headquarters in New York next month. The conference aims to revive the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This move by IsraelCould pose significant legal, diplomatic, and political challenges, as the creation of new settlements violates international law and undermines the prospect of a two-state solution[1][4]. International condemnation is expected, and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians may escalate further[3][4].
[1] https://www.un.org/development/pesc/publications/convention/iv-4.pdf[2] https://www.icj-cij.org/publications/book/146[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42594583[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/30/israel-sets-its-sights-on-illegal-outpost-in-west-bank
- The classified policy decision by Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz to establish 22 new settlements in the West Bank, a move largely considered illegal under international law, may face significant political challenges, particularly in the context of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The latest financial policy, enacted through the creation of these settlements, has sparked criticism from international bodies, such as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, and has also strained relationships with Western allies, including Jordan, that view it as a flagrant violation of international law that undermines prospects for peace.
- As Israel pushes forward with the construction of new settlements, the general news coverage has highlighted the potential consequences for the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with the creation of these settlements violating international law and posing a significant obstacle to the two-state solution, a concept being revived in the upcoming international conference led by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN headquarters in New York.
