With the world’s attention focused on the war in Gaza, Jewish settlers have quietly established an unprecedented number of unauthorized outposts in the occupied West Bank, according to a new report from Peace Now, an Israeli watchdog group.
Quick Read
- Increased Outpost Establishment: Jewish settlers have established a significant number of unauthorized outposts in the West Bank amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a new report from the Israeli watchdog group Peace Now.
- Report Findings: The report highlights that nine unauthorized settlement outposts have been built since the start of the war in Gaza, marking the largest number of settlements established in a three-month period since the 1990s.
- Nature of the Outposts: Most of these new outposts are initially primitive, typically comprising a few tents and an Israeli flag. However, historical trends suggest that many such outposts gradually evolve into more permanent settlements, often with indirect government support.
- Israeli Government’s Stance: The current Israeli government, which includes strong supporters of the settler movement, indirectly influences these developments. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent settler leader, has special authority over settlement planning.
- Location of Outposts: The new outposts are located in areas of the West Bank under full Israeli control, as per the interim peace accords of the 1990s. Israel considers this territory disputed, while the international community deems all such settlements illegal.
- War in Gaza as a Diversion: The report suggests that the war in Gaza is being used by settlers to ‘establish facts on the ground’ in the West Bank.
- Settlement Population: Approximately 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, with an additional 200,000 in East Jerusalem.
- Palestinian Territorial Claims: The Palestinians claim both the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967, as part of their future state.
The Associated Press has the story:
Peace Now group: Unauthorized Jewish Settlements have increased in W. Bank
Newslooks- JERUSALEM —(AP)
With the world’s attention focused on the war in Gaza, Jewish settlers have quietly established an unprecedented number of unauthorized outposts in the occupied West Bank, according to a new report from Peace Now, an Israeli watchdog group.
The report found that settlers have built nine unauthorized settlement outposts since the start of the war. The group estimates it’s the largest number of settlements built over a three-month time frame since outposts began to be established in the 1990s.
Most of the new outposts are primitive. Most consist of only a few tents and an Israeli flag, the report said. But many such outposts have evolved into more permanent developments over the years, often with tacit government support.
Israel’s government is dominated by supporters of the settler movement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hardline settler leader, holds special authority over settlement planning.
The report said the outposts sit in parts of the West Bank that are under full Israeli control according to interim peace accords signed in the 1990s. Israel says the territory is disputed and the fate of the settlements should be resolved in negotiations. The international community considers all settlements illegal.
“The three months of war in Gaza are being exploited by settlers to establish facts on the ground,” the report said.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements in addition to 200,000 others in east Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek both areas, captured by Israel in 1967, as parts of a future state.
