Israel approves largest West Bank settlement expansion on record

Israeli ministers recently approved 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest single expansion in the country’s history. This decision, made on April 1st, is almost six times the number of settlements approved in the three decades following the 1993 Oslo Accords and is occurring as the Netanyahu-led far-right coalition oversees the fastest proliferation of illegal settlements ever. The settlements are planned for deep inside Palestinian areas, where military presence is limited, and were approved despite opposition from Israel’s army chief, Eyal Zamir, who warned of potential military strain and collapse due to manpower shortages.

Rights monitor Yesh Din believes the expansion aims to advance the far-right’s goal of depopulating the West Bank of Palestinians, referencing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s plans for ethnic cleansing. Peace Now, an anti-settlement NGO, stated the government is acting in a “frenzy” ahead of elections, attempting to solidify control over the territory.

This expansion coincides with a surge in settler violence against Palestinians, leading to a record number of displacements – almost 1,700 in the first three months of 2026, exceeding the total for all of 2025, in addition to tens of thousands displaced by Israeli forces since 2024.

(Source：The New Arab)