Israel has once again defied international calls for restraint by approving 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking what observers say is the largest land grab since the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993. The move comes just two weeks after stern warnings from key Western allies, including Canada, the UK, and France.
According to Al Jazeera’s June 2025 report, these new settlements violate international law and are seen as a direct rejection of mounting global pressure to de-escalate and preserve the two-state solution.
🔴 Israel’s Pattern of Defiance
Legal scholars and Middle East analysts argue that this latest move fits a broader, long-standing strategy: responding to international rebuke with even bolder settlement expansion.
“Israel is all about showing [the world] who calls the shots,” said Diana Buttu, a legal scholar specializing in Israeli-Palestinian affairs. “They are saying: ‘You can condemn us all you want, but we’ll continue to expand regardless.’”
Analysts believe these expansions are not spontaneous reactions but are carefully timed to discourage allies from imposing serious consequences, such as sanctions.
📍 Largest Land Seizure Since Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords were intended to pave the way toward a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Instead, Israeli settlement activity has made the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state increasingly remote. The 22 new settlements are just the latest example of this trend, deepening the occupation and fragmenting Palestinian land.
Khaled Elgindy, a scholar at Georgetown University, stated, “This was always part of the plan. The settlements were going to be approved, statement or not.”
🪧 Settlements Announced After Diplomatic Snub
The settlement announcement follows closely on the heels of recognition of Palestinian statehood by Spain, Norway, and Ireland in May 2024. In response, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that new illegal settlements would be built for every country recognizing Palestine.
This retaliatory pattern has been evident before. In 2012, after Palestine gained non-member observer status at the UN, Israel approved 3,000 settler homes in the West Bank.
⚠️ UN: ‘War Crimes and Possible Genocide’
Multiple UN experts and human rights groups have accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity in the West Bank and of genocide in Gaza. These charges are compounded by continued military sieges, such as the months-long assault on Jenin refugee camp where Israeli forces reportedly fired at a convoy of international diplomats.
“I don’t know where the red line is. It is clear there is no red line,” said Buttu, responding to the Jenin incident.
⛔ Western Powers Hesitant on Sanctions
Although Canada, the UK, and France have threatened targeted sanctions on Israeli officials like Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, few expect them to follow through decisively.
“They may say they’re preserving the two-state solution by doing nothing,” said Omar Rahman of the Middle East Council. “But inaction ensures the two-state solution dies.”
🕊️ Is Recognition of Palestine Enough?
Experts warn that symbolic recognition of Palestinian statehood means little without substantive pressure on Israel to halt expansion. Buttu emphasized that by the time the world universally recognizes Palestine, there may be no land left for Palestinians to claim.
