Key facts
- Israel plans to build 2,162 new homes in three West Bank settlements.
- The new homes are planned in settlements near Jerusalem, Nablus, and Hebron.
- Most nations consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocates for tightening Israeli control in the West Bank.
- Palestinians view the settlements as an obstacle to a future independent state.
Israel's hardline finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced plans for a significant expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, with a planning committee approving the construction of 2,162 new homes. These include 1,006 units in a new settlement near Jerusalem, 922 near Nablus, and 234 near Hebron. Smotrich, who advocates for tightening Israeli control and presence in the West Bank, stated the move aims to strengthen Israel's hold on the land and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and a major impediment to a two-state solution. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office condemned the announcement as "provocative" and warned of increased violence, calling on the U.S. to intervene. The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overseen a notable expansion of settlements. The U.S. under the Trump administration had been less critical of settlements, though Trump had warned against annexation. Smotrich himself has faced sanctions from several European countries for inciting violence against Palestinians, which he has denounced.