Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday approved a plan to separate 13 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank from their neighbouring communities.
In a post on X, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the settlements would ultimately be recognised as independent, which follows the approval of tens of thousands of housing units across the West Bank.
“We continue to lead a revolution of normalisation and regulation in the settlements. Instead of hiding and apologising – we raise the flag, build and settle. This is another important step on the path to actual sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich said.
It was gathered that Israel’s opposition to ceding control of the West Bank has been deepened by its fears of a repeat of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants.
Its military said that it was conducting counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and targeting suspected militants.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, criticised the approval of the separation of the neighbourhoods and their recognition as independent settlements as disregarding international legitimacy and resolutions.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, condemned the move in the West Bank, describing it as a desperate attempt to impose realities on the ground and consolidate colonial occupation on Palestinian lands.
At least 700,000 Israeli settlers reportedly live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, land Israel captured in 1967 during the six-day war.
Most countries consider Israel’s settlements on territory seized in the war to be illegal, while Israel disputed it, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.
Israel approves independence for 13 West Bank settlements