Israeli authorities have approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, as the United Nations reports record levels of settlement expansion in 2025.
Israel Expands Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
Israel’s security cabinet approved on Sunday the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total number of settlements approved over the past three years to 69, according to an official statement.
The decision was announced by the office of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who described the move as “historic.”
Government Decision and Strategic Locations
According to the statement, the approval was proposed jointly by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz and endorsed by the security cabinet.
The statement said the locations of the new Israeli settlements in the West Bank are of “high strategic importance,” highlighting the re-establishment of the settlements of Ganim and Kadim in the northern West Bank, which were previously dismantled.
Record Settlement Expansion in 2025
The approval comes amid a sharp increase in Israeli settlement activity. According to a report released Friday by the United Nations Secretary-General, settlement expansion in the West Bank has reached its highest level since systematic UN monitoring began in 2017.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in a document sent to members of the UN Security Council and seen by AFP that in 2025, settlement indicators reached “their highest level” since monitoring began.
Sharp Rise in Housing Units
Guterres noted that approximately 47,390 housing units were submitted, approved, or put out to tender in 2025, compared to around 26,170 units in 2024. These figures represent a significant increase compared to previous years, with an average of about 12,800 settlement units approved annually between 2017 and 2022.
UN Condemnation of Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, warning that such actions fuel tensions, restrict Palestinians’ access to their land, and undermine the possibility of establishing an independent, democratic, and contiguous Palestinian state.
“These developments further entrench the illegal Israeli occupation, violate international law, and infringe upon the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination,” Guterres said.
Call for an Immediate Halt
Guterres reiterated his call for an “immediate” halt to all settlement activity, stressing that continued expansion poses a serious threat to peace efforts and the prospects for a two-state solution.
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