Israel’s hardline coalition government has granted approval for the construction of thousands of new housing units in the occupied West Bank, while also granting the far-right finance minister unprecedented authority to accelerate the development of illegal settlements. This decision bypasses the established six-stage process for building settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ratified the move in the cabinet, effectively enabling Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to take control of the entire settlement-building process. An upcoming meeting of Israel’s Supreme Planning Council will deliberate on the proposal for 4,560 housing units across different regions of the West Bank.
This development has raised alarm among Palestinians, with concerns that Israeli control over the entire West Bank may be imminent. The Palestinian foreign ministry warned that approving settlement activity is a dangerous escalation and a step towards the annexation of the West Bank. Hamas and Fatah also expressed their opposition, predicting increased tensions and emphasizing the removal of settlers from the West Bank as previously occurred in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli government, comprised of ultra-Orthodox parties and a far-right ultranationalist religious faction, has prioritized settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. This stance puts Israel on a collision course with its allies, including the United States, which opposes settlement construction in occupied territories.
The power shift grants Finance Minister Smotrich the final say over settlement construction, effectively eliminating the previous oversight and objection stages overseen by the Israeli military’s civil body. This move has drawn concerns from the international community, as objections and restrictions on settlements have been removed.
Given Smotrich’s support base among settlement residents, his approval of further expansion is anticipated. Since assuming office, Netanyahu’s coalition government has already approved 7,000 new housing units, with many located in the West Bank. Furthermore, a law was amended to allow settlers to return to four previously evacuated settlements.
Currently, approximately 750,000 Israelis reside in 250 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, which were established on land captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. The recent decision by Israel’s hardline government to accelerate settlement expansion has ignited international criticism and concern.
