Israeli Channel 12 reports that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have surged by nearly 40% under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current government, rising from 128 to 178 since late 2022. The expansion includes the announcement of at least 50 new settlements and record approvals for 41,709 settler homes, exceeding totals from the previous six years combined. The number of illegal settlement outposts has reached 214, with 66 established during the Gaza war alone.
The increase has fueled settler violence, with attacks on Palestinians intensifying. Last week, three Palestinians were killed in Kafr Malik. Critics warn these actions aim to entrench Israeli control and eliminate prospects for a two-state solution. The surge comes amid calls by 14 Israeli ministers for Netanyahu to annex the West Bank immediately, with settlers also attacking Israeli soldiers and police in recent weeks.
