Israel Approves 34 West Bank Settlements as Smotrich Pushes Land Law Overhaul
Updated
Updated · Middle East Eye · May 15
Israel Approves 34 West Bank Settlements as Smotrich Pushes Land Law Overhaul
3 articles · Updated · Middle East Eye · May 15
Israel’s cabinet approved 34 new West Bank settlements this year, bringing the total backed by Netanyahu’s coalition to 102 as Bezalel Smotrich tightened civilian control over the occupied territory.
Smotrich’s February land-registration overhaul is expected to make it easier for Israelis to claim Palestinian land, especially in Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank.
The policy shift follows Netanyahu’s 2022 coalition deal, which gave Smotrich authority through a new Settlement Administration and let him steer funding and planning toward settlers rather than Palestinians.
Peace Now says Smotrich allocated 7 billion shekels, or about $2.4 billion, for five years of settlement roads, while the UN recorded nearly 2,000 settler attacks in 2025.
B’Tselem says 59 Palestinian communities with more than 4,000 residents have been displaced since Oct. 7, 2023, underscoring fears that settlement expansion is foreclosing a Palestinian state.
With billions funding new settlements, is a two-state solution now impossible?
How is a new Israeli law systematically erasing Palestinian land ownership in the West Bank?
Why do 96% of settler attacks on Palestinians result in no criminal charges?
103 New Settlements Approved: Israel’s 2026 West Bank Expansion and Policy Shift
Overview
In April 2026, Israel's security cabinet approved a dozen new settlements in the West Bank, focusing on Area C and spreading sites across the region. This move is part of a broader government strategy to increase the Israeli population in the West Bank by streamlining and speeding up settlement planning. Since 2022, 103 new settlements have been approved, though most are not yet fully authorized. These actions reflect a significant policy shift, aiming to entrench Israeli presence and sovereignty in the West Bank, while raising concerns about the future of Palestinian autonomy and regional stability.