The Israeli government has announced plans to build over 5,000 new homes in the West Bank, a move that has sparked significant controversy. As part of these plans, the Israeli Planning Council has also approved the legalization of three Jewish outposts, namely Mahane Gadi, Givat Hanan (Susya East), and Kedem Arava. These outposts have been labeled as 'neighborhoods' of existing settlements by the NGO 'Peace Now'.
In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a Security Cabinet meeting to discuss a proposal from Hamas regarding a possible truce in Gaza and the return of hostages. This meeting will follow consultations with the Israeli negotiating team. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Netanyahu to urge Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas.
The Israeli government has also approved the largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, according to the anti-settlement group Peace Now. Authorities have recently approved the appropriation of 12.7 square kilometers of land in the Jordan Valley, marking the largest appropriation since the Oslo Accords of 1993. This move is likely to exacerbate the already heightened tensions caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The recent land seizures, which include 8 square kilometers in March and 2.6 square kilometers in February, make 2024 the year with the most Israeli land confiscations in the West Bank. These plots are located northwest of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is based. By declaring these lands as state property, the Israeli government facilitates leasing them to Israelis and prohibits Palestinian private ownership.
The expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank is seen by Palestinians as a significant obstacle to achieving a lasting peace agreement. Most of the international community considers these settlements illegal or illegitimate. Israel, however, views the West Bank as the historical and religious heart of the Jewish people and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. The region has been under Israeli control since the Six-Day War in 1967, with more than 500,000 Jewish settlers and three million Palestinians living under Israeli military rule.
- The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, were a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict. Despite these efforts, the expansion of Israeli settlements has continued to be a contentious issue.
- Violence in the West Bank has escalated in the wake of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli military raids in the West Bank have become almost a daily occurrence, often resulting in deadly shootouts with Palestinian insurgents.
- The Palestinian Authority administers certain parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank but is restricted from operating in 60% of the territory, where the majority of settlements are situated. This limitation further complicates the governance and peace process in the region.
