Israel authorises more Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank
Israel said on Thursday it would establish 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalisation of outposts already built without government authorisation.
Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war and the Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. Most of the international community views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the settlement decision "strengthens our hold on Judea and Samaria,' using the biblical term for the West Bank, "anchors our historical right in the Land of Israel, and constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism.'
He added it was also "a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel.'
Smoke rises during an Israeli army operation in Jenin, West Bank. File/Reuters
Israel has already built well over 100 settlements across the territory that are home to some 500,000 settlers. The settlements range from small hilltop outposts to fully developed communities with apartment blocks, shopping malls, factories and public parks.
The West Bank is home to 3 million Palestinians, who live under Israeli military rule with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers. The settlers have Israeli citizenship.
Israel has accelerated settlement construction in recent years - long before Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the war in Gaza -- confining Palestinians to smaller and smaller areas of the West Bank and making the prospect of establishing a viable, independent state even more remote.
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UN experts call for safe passage of Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid ship
3 June 2025 08:24 GENEVA (WAM) United Nations human rights experts have called for the safe passage of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessel, which departed from Italy on Sunday, June 1, carrying essential medical supplies, food, and children's items destined for a statement issued on Monday in Geneva, the experts—including UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese—emphasised the urgent need for humanitarian aid in expressed grave concern for the safety of those onboard the Freedom Flotilla vessel in light of repeated Israeli attacks on human rights defenders and both UN and civilian humanitarian missions. They recalled a similar vessel launched by the alliance in early May that was targeted by a drone strike off the coast of statement stressed that as the flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza, Israel must abide by international law and comply with the International Court of Justice's orders to ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian experts highlighted that the ICJ had issued provisional measures in March 2024, recognising the widespread presence of famine and starvation in further condemned the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, stating that the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Relief Foundation was employing aid to displace, humiliate and detain civilians. The experts also cited alarming figures, noting that acute malnutrition among children had risen by more than 80 percent as of March 2025.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Hamas ready to negotiate and Iran, Egypt talk nuclear
Hamas says it is ready to begin indirect talks on 'points of contention' in a US ceasefire proposal. Iran and Egypt are in talks in Cairo. Emirates airline will resume flights to Damascus next month. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Iran makes nuclear peace pledge in 'fruitful' talks with Egypt and IAEA Hamas says it is ready for indirect Gaza truce talks to resolve 'points of contention' in US proposal Emirates to resume flights to Damascus from July This episode features Aveen Karim, Assistant Foreign Editor; and Kamal Tabikha, Cairo Correspondent.
Arabian Post
8 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Israel Is All Set To Take Over Gaza, West Bank Area
By Nantoo Banerjee Gaza's Hamas militants face an unmitigated disaster as Israel is all set to take full control over Gaza strip after a gap of almost 20 years. Simultaneously, Israel seems to be gearing up to annex a substantial portion (Area C) of West Bank ignoring protests from France, the United Kingdom and Sweden and even a section of its own people In Tel Aviv. Last week, Israel said it would establish 22 additional Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Hamas has few genuine supporters in the Arab world barring Iran and pro-Iran Houthis. Gaza may soon become a part of Israel's extended territory with Palestinian population vastly diminished due to death and displacement during the Israel-Hamas war since October 7, 2023. The present Gaza war follows several unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflicts in the past, including those in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021. Ironically, Israel gave up the control of the Gaza strip, one of the world's most densely populated settlements, in 2005. It withdrew from the Gaza strip and dismantled all its settlements. Israel also withdrew from the Philadelphi Route, a narrow strip of land adjacent to the border with Egypt, after Egypt agreed to secure its side of the border after the Agreement on Movement and Access, known as the Rafah accord. The Israeli army had invaded and took control of the Gaza strip in 1967 following a six-day war. It also captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem. At the time of Israel's withdrawal from the 40-kilometer-long Gaza strip, its population was as large as 1.3 million. The birth rate in Gaza is among the highest in the world. However, there was little room for a proper Jewish settlement there to govern the place without much tension. The Palestinian population is expected to be reduced significantly due to death and dislocation by the time of the end of the war, which seems to have reached the final stage. Nearly 70 percent of Gaza's Palestinian population are refugees, depending mostly on humanitarian assistance for their daily livelihood. The security-linked Israeli blockade of transport movement through the land, air, and sea has forced a good number of the Gaza population to flee the area or die of starvation. In a way, Gaza's refugee population has long been held captive by the Hamas militants running the show in the narrow strip. Once reacquired, Israel will ensure an adequate presence of Jewish population in Gaza to ensure its smooth management and make the strip economically viable. Once the Gaza strip is conquered and a good part of the West Bank comes under the full Israeli control, the country is expected to concentrate on realising its long-cherished dream to emerge as one of the world's top economic and military power. Currently, Israel is West Asia's most developed and advanced country, boasting the 17th largest foreign-exchange reserves in the world. It has the highest average wealth per adult in the 18-member West Asian region, including those on or near the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Turkey, Egypt, and Iran. Israel ranks 10th worldwide by financial assets per capita. Notably, as many as eight Arab states now openly and unabashedly deal with Israel. They are: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan. Assuming that Israel's fighting in Gaza and Lebanon will ease soon, the latest economic survey report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has forecast that the country's economy will grow at a rate of 3.4 percent in 2025 and 5.5 percent in 2026, which is faster than the OECD's average growth forecast for the global economy of 3.1 percent in 2025 and three percent in 2026. The OECD's growth forecast for the current year is lower than the Bank of Israel's projection of four percent and the Israel Finance Ministry's 4.4 percent. However, the OECD expects Israel's economy to rebound this year although it is pessimistic about the pace of growth, citing the risk of war-related spending that continues to take a toll on the country's finances. The 2023 US News & World Report ranked Israel among the world's 10 most powerful countries. It found the Israeli military the fourth strongest globally, behind only the US, China and Russia. The Report said Israel is also the world's sixth most politically influential power. It should be noted that Israel's bid to become a leading global economic and military power are multifaceted. They include strengthening of the country's high-tech sector, continuous innovation in defence technology, and fostering a robust economy. Several multinational corporations are setting up R&D centres in the country. It has a vibrant startup ecosystem, which attracts both local and international investment, and fosters innovation. Israel has a well-established and highly innovative defence manufacturing industry, developing advanced weaponry and technology. The country is a significant exporter of defence equipment. Israel wants to end the Gaza war as early as possible to concentrate on the country's economic development. In his first press conference of the year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that by the end of the current war, the entire Gaza strip would be under Israeli security control. Interestingly, Palestinians in the southern Gaza region have lately taken to the streets to protest against Hamas. Those Gaza-based Palestinian demonstrators were seen in videos posted on social media calling for an end to the war and for the removal of the armed group from Gaza. 'Out! Out! Out! All of Hamas, out!' they chanted. With the head of the Hamas armed wing, Mohammed Sinwar, killed in an Israeli strike last week, the Gaza war is most unlikely to last long. (IPA Service)
