Key facts
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the start of a "settlement revolution."
- The "settlement revolution" is planned to extend to the Negev and Galilee regions.
- Israel's Security Cabinet approved the establishment of 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- Palestinian officials and rights groups expressed concern that the expansion would hinder the possibility of a Palestinian state.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that the government has initiated a "settlement revolution," which he intends to expand beyond the occupied West Bank to include the Negev and Galilee regions. Smotrich stated on X, "I've got news for you: We've only just begun the revolution in settlement. We'll get to the Negev and the Galilee too."
This declaration follows the Israeli Security Cabinet's recent approval of a plan to establish 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank. Palestinian officials have voiced concerns that this expansion will further isolate East Jerusalem from surrounding Palestinian communities and undermine prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state. Rights groups have also noted that the expansion deepens Israeli control over the occupied territory.
Israel has reportedly accelerated its settlement expansion since 2022, with increased government funding supporting the establishment of new outposts. The number of newly established settlement outposts rose significantly in recent years compared to the previous decade.