Israel announces ‘historic decision' of 22 new settlements in the West Bank
Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are condemned by the United Nations.
The move was approved by the security cabinet.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Thursday the creation in the occupied West Bank of 22 new settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
'We have made a historic decision for the development of settlements: 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, renewing settlement in the north of Samaria, and reinforcing the eastern axis of the State of Israel,' the minister said on X, using the Israeli term for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967.
'Next step: sovereignty!' he added.
In a statement on Telegram, the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move a 'once-in-a-generation decision', saying the initiative had been led by Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz and approved by the security cabinet.
'The decision also includes the establishment of four communities along the eastern border with Jordan, as part of strengthening Israel's eastern backbone, national security and strategic grip on the area,' it said.
The party published a map showing the 22 sites spread across the territory.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are condemned by the United Nations as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Mohammad Mansour/AFP
The announcement comes ahead of an international conference to be led by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters in New York next month, which is meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It also comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday he had 'very good feelings' about the prospects for a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding that he expected to send out a new proposal imminently.
Reuters reported that Israeli settlers torched Palestinian vehicles and houses in the occupied West Bank, Israel's army and villagers said, the latest in a series of attacks on the village of Bruqin, close to the location where a pregnant settler was killed this month.
Palestinian residents in Bruqin, who say they have faced constant attacks and abuse from Israeli settlers nearby, said a large group had shown up during the night, throwing Molotov cocktails and beating anyone in their way.
Zain Jaafar/AFP
Akram Sabra, a resident of the village, said he had left his home to watch as dozens, possibly a hundred, people burned cars belonging to him and his family and threw a Molotov cocktail incendiary at his son's house.
'I saw my vehicles were burned and then they beat me on the head and I am still dizzy,' he said.
The Israeli military said it had received a report that Israeli civilians had vandalised property in the area of the village, in the northern part of the West Bank.
'Upon receiving the report, IDF (Israel Defence Force) soldiers were dispatched to the scene. The suspects fled prior to the arrival of IDF soldiers,' it said, adding that no injuries were reported and the incident was under review.
Israeli forces have imposed a strict lockdown in and around Bruqin following the killing of Tzeela Gez, a heavily pregnant resident of the nearby settlement of Bruchin.
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