The Israeli government’s decision, made in its security cabinet, to legalise 19 new settlements in the West Bank is a procedure with political implications rather than an administrative decision per se.
The decision seems particularly timely because it was made at a time when international observation and diplomatic initiatives towards a stable future for greater Middle East region have been very intense.
What the New Approval Means by NPR
Among the newly approved settlements are two that existed in locations from which Israel withdrew in 2005, during its disengagement. The resumption of their construction has political overtones in that it indicates reversing earlier measures that showed restraint.
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who made the statement about resuming construction, said it was a move aimed at ensuring there would never be a state of Palestine. The number of approved settlements in the last three years has greatly increased.
A Sharp Rise in Settlement Expansion
“The number of approved settlements has risen from 141 in 2022 to 210 currently, a jump of almost 50 percent, according to official data quoted by Smotrich,” says to a reporter for Haaretz.
“Additionally, a UN report has just revealed that settlement activities are at their highest level since tracking started in 2017,” he adds in a recent report. The impact of this situation brings changes to the topography, limited access for Palestinians and increased tension for Palestinians in the West Bank.
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International Law & the Global Pushback
The United Nations has always termed the Israeli settlements in the occupied territory as illegal under international law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pointed out that this action obstructs the formation of a Palestinian state.
There are also concerns about this issue in the international community, although Israel contests this legal issue and says it is necessitated by history.
Diplomacy, Pressure & the Way Forward
The timing of this move is also important talks are underway about a peace plan for Gaza that involves US President Donald Trump, who recently warned that any annexation by Israel of West Bank land will cost that country vital American support.
Meanwhile, settlement approvals are underway and it seems that there is a gap between the promises and progress on the ground that makes it difficult to achieve a two-state solution.
The settlement plans are part of a trend for which a further truth holds: policies made now will shape a region for decades to come. It seems likely that in either a path of security or division, a consequence for peace is certain.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports and statements and is intended for analysis and commentary, not to endorse any political position.