Camille Naredo

Article (news)

West Bank

Reuters Wires

Israel&#x27;s government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, its finance minister said on Thursday (May 29), a move condemned by Israeli human rights groups that may strain ties with key allies that have threatened sanctions.Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist in the ruling right-wing coalition who has long advocated for Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, wrote on X that the settlements would be located in the northern West Bank, without specifying exactly where.Israeli media cited the Defense Ministry as saying that among the new settlements, existing &quot;outposts&quot; would be legalized under Israeli law and new settlements would also be built.A spokesperson for Defense Minister Israel Katz did not respond to a text message seeking comment on the announcement.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/28/palestinians-in-gaza-deserve-more-than-survival-says-un-envoy-0113">READ: Palestinians in Gaza &#x27;deserve more than survival,&#x27; says UN envoy</a></div>The Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited rule in the West Bank, and the largely Gaza-based Islamist militant group condemned the Israeli decision.Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said it was a &quot;dangerous escalation,&quot; accusing Israel of continuing to drag the region into a &quot;cycle of violence and instability.&quot;Palestinians regard the expansion of settlements as a hindrance to their aspirations to create an independent state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.There is a growing list of European countries demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, while Britain, France and Canada warned Israel this month that they could impose targeted sanctions if Israel continued to broaden settlement in the West Bank.Britain&#x27;s Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, condemned Israel&#x27;s approval of new settlements, calling it a &quot;deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood.&quot;Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Israeli government deems settlements legal under its own laws, while some so-called &quot;outposts&quot; are illegal but often tolerated and sometimes later legalized.B&#x27;Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights organization, accused the right-wing government of advancing &quot;Jewish supremacy through the theft of Palestinian land and the ethnic cleansing of the West Bank.&quot;In a statement, B&#x27;Tselem also criticized the international community for &quot;enabling Israel&#x27;s crimes.&quot;The decision was praised by Yisrael Ganz, chairman of the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlements and has close ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ganz said the move countered the Palestinian Authority&#x27;s bid to establish a state.Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war. Israel later annexed East Jerusalem, a move not recognized by most countries, but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank.Settlement activity in the West Bank has accelerated sharply since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, now in its 20th month. Israel has also stepped up military operations against Palestinian militants in the West Bank and settler attacks on Palestinian residents have increased.<div>(Production: Ammar Awad, Ismael Khader, Rami Amichay, Roleen Tafakji, Lara Afghani)</div>

Israel's government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, its finance minister said on Thursday.

Israel's government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, its finance minister said on Thursday.

Israel announces new West Bank settlements despite sanctions threat

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

World

Israel announces new West Bank settlements despite sanctions threat

Reuters

Published May 31, 2025 08:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Israel

Palestine

Hamas

Gaza

West Bank

Bezalel Smotrich

Israel Katz

Benjamin Netanyahu

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.