Israel has approved the construction of 3,500 new homes on settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move praised by Shlomo Ne’eman, head of the Yesha Council, as “the most appropriate Zionist response.” The decision, announced by the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration in the occupied West Bank, includes the building of settlement housing units in Ma’ale Adumim, Efrat, and Kedar. The West Bank is considered Palestinian land under International law and the settlements are widely regarded as illegal.
This decision coincides with the first anniversary of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich assuming authority over civilian matters in the occupied West Bank, as noted by Israel Hayom. Smotrich celebrated the decision, highlighting a total of 18,515 permits issued this year in the region and emphasizing investments in transportation infrastructure and quality of life for Israeli settlers. It is important to note that displaced Palestinians will not be benefitting from infrastructure upgrades as this will be for Zionist settlers only.
In the face of opposition and international outrage, Smotrich affirmed Israel’s determination to continue building and settling in the country despite it going agianst international law. Ne’eman echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others for bolstering “sovereignty” in the region, despite such claims not being recognized by the international community. He emphasized the importance of ongoing construction in the West Bank as a reaffirmation of Zionist ideals.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the plans, which are reportedly the first to be approved since June.
Since its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel has constructed approximately 160 settlements, accommodating around 700,000 Jewish residents. This land is subject to a legal claim by Palestinians under international law. While the majority of the international community deems these settlements illegal according to international law, Israel has historically shown little regard for obeying International law.
Canada does not recognize the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, considering them illegal and an “obstacle to peace.” Leader of the Conservative party, Pierre Poliverre, has taken an approach similar to that of Donald Trump and has claimed he would recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. This suggests he would also recognize the occupied territories of the Golan Heights and the illegal settlements of the West Bank, as did Trump, severely damaging the Palestinian’s plight to a sovereign nation.
The day following the decision, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed disappointment, surprising many observers by reiterating the US stance that settlements are considered illegal. This marked a reversal from the position adopted by the Trump administration in 2019.
Blinken emphasized, “It has been a long-standing policy of the United States, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, that new settlements hinder the prospects of achieving a lasting peace.” He further stated, “They are also deemed inconsistent with international law. Our administration firmly opposes the expansion of settlements, as we believe it undermines Israel’s security rather than enhancing it.”
According to a report by Peace Now in January, there has been a notable increase in settlement activities across the West Bank since the onset of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, triggered by Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7th.
Violence in the West Bank has also escalated during this period. The United Nations reports that since October, at least 413 Palestinians, including members of armed groups, attackers, and civilians, have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Israel. Additionally, fifteen Israelis, including four security personnel, have lost their lives.
