Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements
Israel’s Cabinet has approved the establishment or legalization of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich says brings the number of new settlements in recent years to 69 and boosts the total to 210, nearly 50 percent more than in 2022. The decision, which includes restoring two settlements dismantled in the 2005 disengagement and retroactively legalizing outposts, comes as the U.S.-brokered Gaza cease-fire’s second phase envisions a possible pathway to a Palestinian state, and amid ongoing settler violence and fresh clashes in which two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed by Israeli forces Saturday night.
📌 Key Facts
- Israel’s Cabinet approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to far-right Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.
- Peace Now says the total number of West Bank settlements will rise from 141 in 2022 to 210 after this move, an increase of nearly 50 percent during the current government’s tenure.
- The decision includes retroactive legalization of several outposts and the reestablishment of Kadim and Ganim, two of four West Bank settlements dismantled in 2005.
- UN data cited in the article show Israeli settlers carried out an average of eight attacks per day during October’s olive harvest and at least 136 more incidents through Nov. 24.
- The Palestinian Health Ministry reports two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank on Saturday night, while the IDF says both were militants who attacked troops.
📊 Relevant Data
The Palestinian population in the West Bank is estimated at approximately 3.4 million as of mid-2025, compared to over 500,000 Israeli settlers, resulting in a ratio of about 23.4 settlers per 100 Palestinians.
PCBS: 77 years after Nakba, Palestinian population has increased by 10 times — WAFA - Palestine News Agency
Since October 2023, more than 3,200 Palestinians, including over 1,600 children, have been forcibly displaced in the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions.
Humanitarian Situation Update #333 | West Bank — OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Area C, comprising about 60% of the West Bank and under full Israeli administrative control, is where all Israeli settlements are located, restricting Palestinian development and access to land.
2025 Investment Climate Statements: West Bank and Gaza — U.S. Department of State
The unemployment rate in the West Bank rose to 35% in 2025, with the Palestinian economy declining by a third compared to pre-October 2023 levels, partly due to restrictions imposed by Israeli settlements and occupation.
The Israeli Settlements and their Economic and Social Effects on the Occupied Palestinian Territory — Arab Labour Organization
On October 22, 2025, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel's presence and settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory are unlawful and must be ended as rapidly as possible.
The ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel's Obligations - Key Conclusions Relating to UNRWA — UNRWA