Netanyahu Vows Major Israeli Settler Migration to Palestinian Territories

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel's commitment to expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, anticipating a substantial migration of Israeli settlers into occupied Palestinian territories. "We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities we have established and legalized together, and 160 farms, with more to come," Netanyahu stated at a settler event on Tuesday evening.

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We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities we have established and legalized together, and 160 farms, with more to come.

Netanyahu praised the settlers, asserting, "You are fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land." He added, "You are preparing the land for a very large wave of immigration that is coming," commending the government's efforts to realize generational visions. Netanyahu has aggressively pursued settlement expansion, including establishing "outposts" often consisting of mobile homes or temporary structures, which have seen a sharp increase under his leadership.

The announcement comes as Israel approaches elections in October 2026. Critics suggest Netanyahu, as Likud party leader, is using settlement expansion promises, particularly in the West Bank, to secure votes. The international community is closely watching Israel's plan to execute the E1 settlement project, which is opposed due to its potential to obstruct the formation of a Palestinian state by separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem.

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You are fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land.

Foreign ministers from Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates have strongly condemned Israel's continued illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories. They explicitly rejected the E1 settlement plan and related activities east of occupied East Jerusalem, warning it poses a dangerous escalation that would expand the annexation of occupied Palestinian territory. They stated the project threatens the viability and realization of an independent, contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders. This action is seen as a direct challenge to international peace efforts.

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You are preparing the land for a very large wave of immigration that is coming.