Canada, along with 13 other nations, released a collective statement on Wednesday denouncing the Israeli security cabinet’s endorsement of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The joint declaration emphasized that such unilateral actions, part of a broader escalation in settlement policies in the West Bank, not only contravene international law but also pose a risk of escalating instability.
Israel’s cabinet recently approved 19 additional settlements, bringing the total number of new settlements to 69 over the past few years, as confirmed by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who advocates for West Bank expansion efforts. This approval represents a nearly 50% increase in the number of settlements in the West Bank under the current far-right government’s leadership. Peace Now, an organization monitoring settlement activities, reported that there were 141 settlements in 2022, which has now risen to 210.
The establishment of settlements is widely regarded as illegal under international law. The recent cabinet approval, undisclosed until Sunday, encompassed not only new settlements but also the retroactive legalization of previously established outposts and settlements on evacuated Palestinian land. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand publicly criticized the news, emphasizing that the continued settlement expansion undermines the prospects for a two-state solution and peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
This development occurs amidst U.S. efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire plan, brokered by the U.S., aims to create a potential pathway to a Palestinian state, a goal impeded by the expansion of settlements. The approved settlements include Kadim and Ganim, two settlements previously dismantled in 2005 but now subject to resettlement following legislative changes enacted in 2023.