Israel security cabinet has approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that has drawn strong international criticism and renewed concerns over prospects for a Palestinian state. The decision was confirmed by Israel’s far-right finance minister, who said the step was intended to block Palestinian statehood.
Read More: Israel approves 764 new West Bank homes
The approval comes days after the United Nations warned that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank had reached its highest level in years. Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are considered illegal.
According to a statement from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office, the latest decision brings the total number of settlements approved over the past three years to 69. The statement said the cabinet had agreed to declare and formalise the new settlements in what Israel refers to as Judea and Samaria.
International law means nothing. How can this illegality be stopped?
Israel’s security cabinet approves 19 new settlements in occupied West Bank (via @thejounal.ie) pic.twitter.com/RqMh27aAoz
— Steve Wall (@stevethewall) December 21, 2025
Smotrich, a settler himself and a strong advocate of settlement expansion, said the move would prevent what he described as the creation of a Palestinian “terror state”. He added that Israel would continue to develop and settle areas it considers strategically important.
The United Nations has strongly condemned the decision. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the continued expansion of settlements fuels tensions, restricts Palestinian access to land, and undermines the viability of an independent and contiguous Palestinian state.
A recent UN report said settlement growth has surged sharply compared with previous years, noting that thousands of housing units have been added annually since 2017. The UN chief said such developments further entrench Israel’s occupation and violate international law, while undermining the Palestinian right to self-determination.
More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the occupied West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, alongside around three million Palestinians. Some of the newly approved settlements already existed but lacked legal status under Israeli law, while others involve the re-establishment of dismantled outposts.
Read More: Israel legalizes settlements, Lebanon strike paused
The West Bank has remained tense since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, with a sharp rise in violence and international concern over the risk of further escalation.