Palestinian men collect wheat, after an Israeli settlers attack in Al Mughayyir near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo
Israel Approves 22 New Settlements in West Bank Amid International Condemnation
RAMALLAH, May 29, 2025 — Israel’s government has approved the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from international allies, human rights organizations, and Palestinian authorities. The decision, announced by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, comes amid rising global pressure over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and intensified settlement activity in the West Bank.
Smotrich, a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, confirmed the new settlements would be located in the northern West Bank, though he did not specify exact locations. Israeli media reported that the plan includes the legalization of previously unauthorized outposts and the construction of new settlements under Israeli law.
Domestic and International Backlash
The announcement triggered immediate condemnation from both domestic rights groups and foreign governments. B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights organization, accused the government of promoting “Jewish supremacy through the theft of Palestinian land” and engaging in ethnic cleansing. The group also criticized the international community for failing to halt Israeli actions.
Breaking the Silence, an advocacy group of former Israeli soldiers, warned that legitimizing outposts rewarded settler violence and said the expansion was driven by an extremist ideological agenda.
Palestinian officials decried the move as a serious escalation undermining any prospects for peace. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, urged the Trump administration to intervene, accusing Israel of seeking to destroy the possibility of an independent Palestinian state.
“This extremist Israeli government is trying by all means to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” said Abu Rudeineh.
International Sanctions Threatened
The decision may also strain Israel’s relations with key allies. Britain, France, and Canada have warned Israel this month that continued settlement expansion could trigger targeted sanctions. Following the announcement, British Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer condemned the move as a “deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood.”
“Settlements are illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel,” Falconer stated.
The European Union, facing internal pressure to act, has intensified calls for an end to Israeli operations in Gaza and settlement activity in the West Bank. The United Nations and most international legal authorities consider all settlements in the occupied territories to be illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, claiming legal status under its domestic legal framework.
Israeli Supporters Defend the Decision
On the Israeli right, the move was hailed as a historic milestone. Yisrael Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, praised the expansion, stating it would reinforce Israel’s claim to the West Bank and strengthen national security.
“We are here not only to stay but to establish the State of Israel here for all its residents,” Ganz said.
Roughly 700,000 Israeli settlers now live among 2.7 million Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. While Israel annexed East Jerusalem, its sovereignty over the West Bank has not been formally extended and is not recognized internationally.
Escalating Conflict
Settlement expansion has accelerated since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, now in its 20th month. In tandem, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have intensified, and settler violence against Palestinians has reportedly increased.
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the settlement decision as part of a broader war led by Netanyahu against the Palestinian people. He called on the U.S. and European Union to respond decisively to Israel’s continued expansion.
As diplomatic tension mounts and calls for sanctions increase, the latest decision signals a deepening of Israel’s current policy direction, with potentially far-reaching implications for the prospects of a two-state solution and regional stability.
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