Israel's security cabinet has approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank as the government continues its settlement expansion push.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler who proposed the move alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, stated that the decision is aimed at blocking the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.
Saudi Arabia has condemned this decision. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted that Israel's relentless settlement expansion exacerbates tensions, restricts Palestinian access to land, and threatens the viability of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Violence in the occupied West Bank has significantly increased since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, raising fears that settlement expansion could reinforce Israel's occupation and undermine prospects for a two-state solution.
The two-state solution aims to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 Arab-Israeli war boundaries.
Since taking office in 2022, the current Israeli government has notably accelerated the approval of new settlements while initiating the legalization process for unauthorized outposts, recognizing them as neighborhoods of existing settlements.
The latest decision brings the total number of settlements approved in the past three years to 69, according to Smotrich.
The approvals come shortly after a UN report declared settlement expansion had reached its highest level since 2017.
The new approvals include reinstating two settlements — Ganim and Kadim — dismantled almost 20 years ago.
In May, Israel greenlit 22 new settlements in the West Bank—the largest expansion in decades.
In August, the Israeli government also approved plans for over 3,000 new homes in the contentious E1 project between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, which had previously faced international opposition.
Approximately 700,000 settlers currently reside in around 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land sought by Palestinians for a future independent state.
This expansion has incited anger among Arab nations, which argue it undermines efforts towards a two-state solution and raises concerns over the potential annexation of the occupied West Bank.
Previously, US President Donald Trump warned Israel against such actions, indicating they could jeopardize US support.
In September, the UK, along with countries like Australia and Canada, recognized a Palestinian state, marking a significant, albeit symbolic, shift in policy. Israel opposed this move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that a Palestinian state will not happen.
