Overview
- Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK issued a joint statement condemning the approval of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- The governments said the decision violates international law, risks fueling instability and could undermine implementation of the Gaza Comprehensive Plan, urging reversal under UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
- Israel’s security cabinet approved 11 new settlements and formalized eight outposts on December 11, a move driven by ministers including Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz, according to multiple reports.
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the criticism, citing Jewish national rights, security needs, and the location of the sites on state land in Area C while invoking Mandate-era legal arguments.
- Context from monitors noted a sharp expansion: Peace Now estimates recognized settlements rose from 141 in 2022 to about 210, while the UN says 2025 settlement growth reached its highest level since at least 2017.