West Bank Land Grab Israel's Settlement Expansion Goes Mega!

Israel Approves Largest West Bank Settlement Expansion in Decades, Raising Concerns Over Annexation

In a move that has sparked international concern and condemnation, Israel has approved a significant expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. This decision, announced this week, marks the most substantial settlement expansion since the signing of the Oslo Accords over 30 years ago, according to Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that monitors settlement activity.

The decision, a joint announcement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, involves the establishment of **22 new settlements** across the West Bank. This includes areas deep within the territory and locations from which Israel had previously withdrawn.

According to Katz and Smotrich, this move is driven by a "long-term strategic vision" aimed at:

• Reinforcing Israeli control over the territory
• Preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state
• Securing development reserves for future settlement growth

Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh has strongly condemned the expansion, calling it a "**dangerous escalation and a challenge to international legitimacy and international law.**" He warned that the move would "perpetuate regional violence and instability."

Peace Now has also criticized the government's timing, questioning the decision to advance settlement expansion amidst the ongoing conflict. The organization stated, "The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace. The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal."

Key Concerns and Implications:

• Legality: Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights are widely considered illegal under international law.
• Oslo Accords: This expansion undermines the Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, which aimed to establish a Palestinian state and achieve a two-state solution.
• De Facto Annexation: Critics argue this move represents a continuation of Israel's de facto annexation of the West Bank.
• Settlement Breakdown: Peace Now reports that 12 of the new settlements will legalize existing illegal outposts, nine will be entirely new, and one will convert an existing neighborhood into an independent settlement.
• Reversal of Disengagement: Two settlements are planned in areas evacuated during the 2005 disengagement, a move made possible by the current government's overturning of the law prohibiting Israeli civilian presence in those areas.

Finance Minister Smotrich celebrated the decision, explicitly stating his goal of annexation: "**The next step – sovereignty! We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our ancestors.**"

Adding to the controversy, the security cabinet recently approved a land registration process for Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli civil and security control. Peace Now has denounced this as a "**mega theft of Palestinian lands.**"

This latest settlement expansion represents a significant shift in Israeli policy and raises serious questions about the future of the peace process and the prospects for a two-state solution. The international community's response and the potential ramifications for regional stability remain to be seen. The long-term impact on the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians living in the region is undoubtedly a cause for deep concern and requires careful consideration.

Tags: Israel, West Bank, Settlements, Expansion, Peace Now, Oslo Accords, Jewish settlements, Israeli control, Palestinian state, Middle East, Annexation, International Law, Occupation, Two-State Solution

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/29/middleeast/israel-west-bank-settlements-expansion-intl