Israeli settlement expansion raises concerns for Palestinian peace process

International Desk, PNN

The approval of 19 new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank has drawn sharp criticism from 14 countries, including the UK, Canada, Denmark, and France. In a joint statement, the nations said Israel’s decision violates international law and severely threatens the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza and long-term peace and security in the Middle East.

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the UK expressed that any form of territorial annexation or settlement expansion undermines the peace process. They urged Israel to reverse the decision and reaffirmed support for Palestinian self-determination and a fair, lasting two-state solution.

Israel rejected the criticism, calling it discriminatory. Foreign Minister Gidion Sa’ar stated that foreign governments cannot limit Jews’ right to live on Israeli land, and such calls are morally wrong.

Earlier, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the new settlements aim to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state in the future. Since the current government took office at the end of 2022, 69 new settlements have been constructed or legally recognized.

The UN reported that Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territories has reached its highest level in recent years, limiting opportunities for Palestinians to maintain contiguous land, thus obstructing a two-state solution. Analysts note that many new settlements are being built in the northeastern West Bank, where settlement activity was previously limited, heightening fears of land loss and increasing the risk of violence.