Israel announces 22 new settlements in the West Bank
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Thursday the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank a move he described as "historic." However, this decision is likely to deepen existing tensions between Israel and parts of the international community.
Smotrich, a far-right politician, referred to the West Bank using the Israeli term "Judea and Samaria" and emphasized the importance of expanding settlements across the region. A map shared by the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shows that these new settlements will be distributed throughout the West Bank from north to south further fragmenting a territory already heavily impacted by Israeli colonization.
The expansion of settlements has been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations as a violation of international law. The UN also considers it a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, as it undermines the viability of a future Palestinian state.
This announcement comes shortly after Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire in Gaza after nearly 600 days of conflict between Israel and Hamas. It also coincides with preparations for a United Nations peace conference in June, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at promoting a two-state solution where Israel and a fully sovereign Palestinian state coexist peacefully.
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