Israel approves creation of 19 new settlements in the West Bank
Israeli authorities have approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a decision that is likely to further heighten tensions in the region and draw international criticism.
According to official statements, the approval brings the total number of settlements authorized over the past three years to nearly seventy. Israeli officials argue that the move is intended to strengthen control over strategic areas and prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state, a position strongly supported by members of the current right-wing government.
Several of the newly approved sites reportedly already exist as informal outposts that lacked official authorization. Others are located in areas described by Israeli authorities as strategically important, including locations that had been dismantled in previous decades and are now set to be re-established.
The expansion of settlements has accelerated in recent years, particularly amid ongoing conflict in the region. The United Nations has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law and undermine prospects for a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
International reactions to settlement expansion remain largely critical, with many countries warning that continued construction threatens regional stability and the prospects for a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
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