Overview

• Israel’s security cabinet approved 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, formally legalizing numerous outposts built without prior authorization.
• Among the approved sites are the symbolic re-establishment of Homesh and Sa-Nur and four new communities along the Jordanian border.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz said the move reinforces Israel’s hold on Judea and Samaria and prevents the creation of a Palestinian state.
• The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision as a dangerous escalation that fuels violence and undermines peace efforts.
• The United Nations and European Union regard the expansion as illegal under international law and have warned of targeted sanctions.