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The Hindu: December 21, 2025

Israel Approves 19 New West Bank Settlements, Drawing International Condemnation

Jerusalem – In a move likely to further inflame tensions in the region, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to a statement released by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office on Sunday. The decision brings the total number of settlements approved in the last three years to 69.

Smotrich, a staunch proponent of settlement expansion, declared the move was intended to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. “On the ground, we are blocking the establishment of a Palestinian terror state,” he stated. “We will continue to develop, build, and settle the land of our ancestral heritage.”

The announcement comes days after the United Nations reported that settlement expansion in the West Bank had reached its highest level since at least 2017. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly condemned Israel’s settlement activity, arguing that it fuels tensions, restricts Palestinian access to land, and undermines the viability of a future Palestinian state. Several European countries, Canada, and Australia have recently moved towards formally recognizing Palestine as a state, further complicating the situation.

The 19 newly approved settlements are located in what Smotrich’s office termed “highly strategic areas.” Two of the settlements, Ganim and Kadim in the northern West Bank, will be re-established after being dismantled two decades ago. Five of the settlements already existed but lacked formal legal status under Israeli law.

While all Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, Israel distinguishes between settlements authorized by the government and unauthorized outposts. However, many of these outposts are later legalized, raising concerns about a potential annexation of the territory.

According to AFP, violence in the West Bank has soared since the Gaza war started in October 2023.

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