Overview

• Israel’s government announced plans to establish 22 new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including legalizing outposts built without prior authorization.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz said the expansion reinforces Israel’s hold on Judea and Samaria and constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism.
• More than 100 existing settlements already house some 500,000 Israeli settlers alongside roughly 3 million Palestinians living under Israeli military rule in the territory.
• Most United Nations members and the International Court of Justice classify West Bank settlements as illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.
• Palestinian Authority officials warn that further settlement growth undermines the two-state solution and risks inflaming violence.