Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Thursday it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory.
A map released by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shows that the plan includes the reestablishment of two outposts, Homesh and Sa-Nur, in the northern part of the territory. Both outposts were evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank.
The announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledges to take full control of Gaza, while pro-settlement ministers, including Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, advocate for resettling evacuated Jewish settlements in Gaza.
Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and has expanded settlements there ever since. Currently, more than 720,000 Israeli settlers live in heavily-guarded communities there.
UN Resolution 2334, along with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, maintains that all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal.
The international community widely considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where the Palestinians wish to establish their future state, an obstacle to achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians. ■
Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Photo taken on May 30, 2025 shows newly-built houses in a Jewish settlement near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On Thursday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, in what Israeli officials described as a strategic expansion of Israeli presence in the Palestinian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the Security Cabinet's approval of the plan, calling it a "historic decision" to "strengthen our grip" on the West Bank. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
