Israel Approves 13 New Illegal Settlements in West Bank, Palestinians Condemn Move

Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the establishment of 13 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move Palestinian officials decried as a further fragmentation of their territory and isolation of East Jerusalem.

The Israeli cabinet sanctioned the construction of these settlements in the Benyamin region, a significant settlement bloc in the West Bank. The plan aims to solidify Israeli control over strategic hills and limit Palestinian territorial contiguity. It focuses on two main corridors: the northwestern area of Jerusalem and the area west of Ramallah along Route 60, a vital north-south artery connecting Palestinian cities and Israeli settlements.

Palestinian officials described the plan as a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law, urging international intervention. They linked the settlement expansion to domestic political considerations in Israel, particularly ahead of Knesset elections.

Data from the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR) shows a dramatic increase in the establishment of new settlement outposts. The number of new outposts averaged around eight per year between 2012 and 2022, but surged to 32 in 2023, 62 in 2024, and reached 86 in 2025. This expansion is facilitated by substantial government funding, with millions of shekels allocated to settlement outposts in recent years.