Israeli settlers build fresh illegal outpost in eastern West Bank
4 Min Read
There are currently five settler outposts along the al-Ma’arajat Road, northwest of the city of Areeha, four of which have been established since October 7, 2023.
-
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Beit Lahm, on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 (AP)
Israeli settlers established Friday a new unlawful outpost adjacent to the Palestinian Bedouin community along the al-Ma’arajat Road, positioned northwest of the city of Areeha in the eastern occupied West Bank, Palestine's state-run news agency WAFA reported.
Hassan Mleihat, the general supervisor of the local Al-Baidar Organization for Defending Bedouin Rights, informed WAFA that Israeli settlers erected a tent on the land belonging to the community Friday morning and engaged in provocative dances in the vicinity.
He further mentioned the existence of five settler outposts along the al-Ma’arajat Road, four of which have been established since October 7, 2023, as part of continuous efforts to extend the control of Israeli settlers over the border regions between the Ramallah and Areeha governorates.
The Middle East Monitor news website cited Israeli estimates suggesting that over 720,000 Israelis currently reside in illegal settlement outposts within the occupied West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds.
It pointed out that the pace of settlement construction has notably increased since the extremist Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assumed office in December 2022.
The international community, including the United Nations, views these settlements as illegal under international law. The UN has consistently warned that the ongoing expansion of settlements jeopardizes the feasibility of a "two-state solution."
A major legal development occurred in July when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling that deemed "Israel’s" occupation of Palestinian territories as "illegal", urging the immediate dismantling of all current settlements in the occupied West Bank and the eastern part of al-Quds.
'Israel' announces seizure of 24,000 dunums of West Bank land
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently announced the seizure of 24,000 dunums (approximately 5,930.5 acres) in the occupied West Bank, classifying them as "state lands", according to the Palestinian Information Centre.
The Israeli Channel 14 described the move as a "dramatic" development that is expected to impact regional planning and reshape the area.
“At the right time, today we completed a complex process to announce 24,000 dunums of new state lands in the West Bank,” Smotrich indicated.
“This process creates a settlement sequence, builds land reserves for Israel to develop settlements, infrastructure and roads, and guarantees that we will continue to strengthen the settlements, and we are here to stay,” the Israeli Minister added.
In a post on X, Smotrich emphasized that "more than 23,000 dunams of land for the benefit of the settlement in Yosh."
"We determine facts on the ground and thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state!”
Channel 14 explained that the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, located east of occupied al-Quds, will be expanded by approximately 2,600 dunums (642 acres) to the south, creating a settlement chain linked to the illegal settlement of Kedar.
Additional expansions are planned for illegal settlements such as Migdal Oz and Susya in the southern West Bank, as well as Yafit in the Jordan Valley, the media outlet noted.
This declaration represents nearly half of the land usurped under the title of "state land" since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, the Middle East Monitor highlighted.
Read more: Settlers intimidating olive farmers in West Bank: Plot for annexation
