Israel has approved the construction of 764 additional houses in three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move likely to escalate tensions. The decision by the Higher Planning Council, responsible for settlement construction in the West Bank, granted approval for 478, 230, and 56 housing units in the Hashmonaim, Beitar Illit, and Givat Ze’ev settlements, respectively. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler himself, described the decision as part of a strategic effort to bolster settlements and ensure their growth and security.
This recent approval brings the total number of housing units sanctioned in the West Bank under Smotrich’s tenure to 51,370. Most of the international community considers these settlements illegal under international law, with several United Nations Security Council resolutions opposing their expansion.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, criticized the move, denouncing it as part of a settlement policy that aims to spark conflict in the region. He urged the Trump administration to pressure Israel to halt settlement expansion to support stability efforts in the area.
A watchdog group, Peace Now, accused the Israeli government of edging towards de facto annexation of the West Bank, highlighting the increasing number of housing approvals as a concerning trend. The group warned that entrenching an illegitimate apartheid regime through settlement expansion could have severe consequences when the settlements are eventually evacuated.
Criticism has mounted against the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, for accelerating settlement expansion in the West Bank. This expansion, which aims to prevent the establishment of a future Palestinian state, has drawn condemnation from Palestinians and human rights organizations. Israel has settled over 500,000 Jews in the West Bank and an additional 200,000 in contested East Jerusalem.
The surge in settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank has exacerbated tensions. During the recent olive harvest season, settlers carried out an average of eight attacks daily, the highest recorded since data collection began in 2006. Attacks continued into November, with at least 136 incidents reported by November 24, including arson, mosque desecration, and destruction of property. Israeli authorities have faced criticism for their limited response to the escalating violence.
The ongoing settlement expansion and the increase in violent incidents underscore the deep-rooted tensions in the region, raising concerns about the prospects for peace and stability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.