The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israel’s recent decision to recognize over a dozen new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling it a blatant disregard for international law. The move, which upgrades existing settlement neighborhoods to independent settlement status, has sparked international criticism.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry accused Israel of showing “disregard for international legitimacy and its resolutions.” The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, is home to approximately three million Palestinians and nearly 500,000 Israeli settlers. The international community considers these settlements illegal under international law.
Israeli Government’s Justification
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician and a strong advocate for settlement expansion, praised the decision, calling it an “important step” in strengthening Israeli presence in the West Bank.
“The recognition of each (neighborhood) as a separate community… is an important step that would help their development,” Smotrich stated on Telegram. He referred to the move as part of a “revolution” and emphasized his vision for expanded Israeli sovereignty over the territory.
“Instead of hiding and apologizing, we raise the flag, we build and we settle,” he added. He further described the decision as a step toward “de facto sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” using the Biblical term for the West Bank.
Palestinian and International Reactions
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, also denounced Smotrich’s remarks, describing the settlement expansion as a “racist replacement project.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian foreign ministry highlighted an ongoing Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank, accusing Israel of escalating land confiscation at an unprecedented rate.
The 13 settlements approved for development by the Israeli cabinet are dispersed across the West Bank. Some of these newly recognized settlements are integral to larger settlements, while others are relatively separate communities. However, their official recognition under Israeli law has yet to be finalized.
The Yesha Council, an umbrella organization representing West Bank settler municipal councils, celebrated the decision, calling it a “normalization” of settlement expansion. The council also expressed gratitude to Smotrich for advancing the initiative within the cabinet.
According to European Union figures, 2023 witnessed a record number of settlement-building permits issued by Israel over the past three decades. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank remains a deeply contentious issue, drawing condemnation from Palestinian leaders and the broader international community.
