Israel approved plans for 2,162 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. The move matters because it deepens disputes over Palestinian statehood prospects. Palestinians, who seek the territory for a future state, are expected to be most affected.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the expansion after a planning committee approved the new housing units. The plan includes 1,006 homes near Jerusalem, 922 near Nablus, and 234 near Hebron. Smotrich said the construction would strengthen Israel’s presence and security in the territory. However, he did not provide a timeline for when building would begin.
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Most countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. They also view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a negotiated two-state solution. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has continued expanding settlements and supporting new projects across the territory.
Meanwhile, Palestinians strongly condemned the announcement. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s office described the policy as provocative and warned it could trigger further instability. The office also urged the United States to intervene and pressure Israel to halt settlement expansion. Palestinians seek the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza as parts of a future independent state.
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Currently, about 500,000 Israelis live among roughly three million Palestinians in the West Bank. In addition, Smotrich has intensified opposition to Palestinian statehood during his time in office. Last month, he vowed to confront the Palestinian Authority after claims involving a possible International Criminal Court warrant. However, the court has not confirmed those reports.