Israel Cites Historic Right As It Approves 22 New Settlements In West Bank

In a move that has reignited international debate over territorial legitimacy and peace prospects, Israel on Thursday (29 May) announced plans to establish 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the formal legalisation of several outposts previously built without government approval.

According to a report by The Hindu Defense Minister Israel Katz said the decision would “strengthens our hold on Judea and Samaria,” invoking the biblical name for the region, and added that it serves as “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel.”

The West Bank, home to around 3 million Palestinians, has been under Israeli control since the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel has already built over 100 settlements, housing approximately 500,000 settlers. While Israel considers these areas part of its historic homeland, the international community largely deems the settlements illegal under international law and an obstacle to a two-state solution.

The announcement comes amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, which erupted after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza that has, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, killed over 54,000 Palestinians, though it does not specify how many were civilians or militants.

The latest move to expand settlements is seen by critics as further complicating the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, especially as Israeli control over territory in Gaza and the West Bank deepens.

While President Joe Biden’s administration had maintained opposition to settlement expansion, Washington has applied limited pressure, and Israel's settlement growth has accelerated since the Trump era, when U.S. policy shifted to formally back Israel’s territorial claims.

The International Court of Justice ruled last year that Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories was unlawful and called for an immediate halt to settlement activity — a ruling Israel rejected outright.

Critics say the latest expansion plan underscores a broader strategic aim: to solidify control over disputed land and reshape the long-standing status quo — leaving little space for a negotiated solution.