Canada and a coalition of 13 other nations jointly criticized the Israeli security cabinet’s endorsement of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank in a statement released on Wednesday. The statement emphasized that such unilateral actions, part of a broader escalation of settlement policies in the West Bank, not only breach international law but also pose a risk of escalating tensions.
The Israeli cabinet recently announced the approval of 19 additional settlements, bringing the total number of new settlements in the past few years to 69, as confirmed by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of West Bank expansion. This decision represents a nearly 50% increase in the number of settlements in the West Bank during the current far-right government’s term. The count rose from 141 in 2022 to 210 now, according to Peace Now, an organization monitoring settlement activities.
Considered illegal under international law, settlements have faced widespread condemnation. The cabinet’s approval on December 11, which was kept confidential until Sunday, included the retroactive legalization of certain existing settlement outposts and neighborhoods, as well as the establishment of new settlements on previously occupied Palestinian land.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand voiced her disapproval of the settlement expansion, stating that it defies international law and undermines the 20 Point Peace Plan, jeopardizing the vision of a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians coexisting peacefully.
This development occurs amidst U.S. efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire brokered on October 10 between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire agreement aims to pave the way for a potential Palestinian state, a goal obstructed by the expansion of settlements.
Two of the settlements granted legalization in the latest decision, Kadim and Ganim, were among the four settlements dismantled in 2005 during Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government’s repeal of a 2005 evacuation act in March 2023 allowed for multiple attempts to resettle these areas, showcasing a complex history of settlement activities in the region.