Overview
- Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK issued a joint Dec. 24 statement condemning Israel’s security‑cabinet decision and urging reversal in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
- Israel confirmed the cabinet authorized 11 new settlements and formalized eight outposts, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejecting the criticism as discriminatory and saying all sites are in Area C on state land for security needs.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key proponent, said the approvals are intended to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state.
- The signatories warned the decision violates international law, risks fueling instability and could undercut implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza and prospects for a two‑state solution.
- Watchdogs and UN reporting cite a sharp acceleration in settlement expansion, with Peace Now estimating the number of recognized settlements rose from 141 in 2022 to about 210 after the latest approvals, the highest pace since at least 2017.