Illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank on the rise

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The New York Times
5 Jan 2024 16:44
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Israeli settlers are expanding their occupation of the West Bank under the cover of Israeli aggression on the territory and the Gaza Strip.

The newly established Israeli colonial outpost of "Eviatar" as seen from the Palestinian village of Beita, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Palestine, June 14, 2021 (AP)

Illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank are building new colonial outposts and paving several roads, unauthorized by Israeli authorities, a New York Times report revealed, citing the Israeli Peace Now NGO.

Israeli settlers are taking advantage of their military's war on Gaza to carry out a surge of "unauthorized moves" to expand the occupation of the West Bank, the report highlighted.

The Israeli NGO recorded the establishment of nine new colonial outposts made out of temporary structures, while more than a dozen dirt paths and roads were established by the occupiers.

Moreover, settlers have been fencing off open areas in Area C, which falls under the direct jurisdiction of the Israeli occupation government, according to the Oslo agreement.

It is worth noting that Area C comprises the largest territory in the West Bank and contains grazing and agricultural lands, which have been the focus of settlers, who seek to push Palestinians from their land, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

In this context, the Israeli NGO said the settlers are fencing off the areas to block Palestinian herders from accessing green areas, violating their government's laws.

It is worth noting that "Israel" illegally occupied the West Bank, as per international law, and its expansion of settlements in the territory is heavily criticized even within Israeli circles.

The current Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a fierce violent expansionist policy in the occupied West Bank. Arming settlers with assault rifles has been a trademark of the occupation's Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, while occupation forces have carried near daily raids on cities and towns of the West Bank.

Earlier on December 25, the Israeli cabinet approved a resolution to disburse 75 million shekels for enhancing infrastructure, particularly for security measures in illegal Israeli settlements, highlighting expansionist policies.

The allocated funds are intended to benefit around 70 colonial outposts. Another extremist, Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Finance Minister, outlined that the funds will be utilized to procure firefighting equipment, prefabricated bomb shelters, generators, field cameras, lighting, and rescue equipment, aiming to extend the roots of these colonial outposts into Palestinian land.