Israel has greenlit a significant expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, a decision that has drawn immediate and sharp criticism from the international community, including the United Kingdom.
A Major Expansion Championed by the Far-Right
The Israeli cabinet, on Monday 22 December 2025, approved the establishment of 19 new settlements. This move, heavily promoted by the country's far-right Finance Minister, Betzalel Smotrich, marks a substantial escalation in construction on land Palestinians seek for a future state.
The approvals will increase the total number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank to 210. This represents a dramatic surge of nearly 50% since the current government took office, signalling a firm policy shift.
Details of the Controversial Approvals
The newly authorised settlements include a mix of retroactively legalising existing unauthorised outposts and establishing new communities. Notably, some are slated for land where Palestinians were previously evacuated, including two sites that were dismantled back in 2005.
This expansion is viewed as illegal under international law by most of the world's governments and major human rights organisations. It comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the United States intensifies efforts to broker a lasting Gaza ceasefire.
International Backlash and UK Response
The announcement has been met with widespread condemnation. UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer issued a strong statement, warning that the decision seriously risks undermining the US-brokered peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
Minister Falconer stressed that such unilateral actions critically damage the prospects for a viable two-state solution, a long-standing cornerstone of international diplomacy for the region. The move also coincides with reports of a significant increase in violent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
The international community now faces renewed challenges in navigating a path toward peace, with this latest settlement expansion posing a direct obstacle to diplomatic efforts and further inflaming tensions on the ground.
