Israel Approves Plan to Independently Recognize 13 West Bank Settlements

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to separate and recognize 13 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as independent entities, a move celebrated by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as a step towards actual sovereignty. This decision follows the approval of numerous housing units across the region and aims to normalize and regulate the settlements. However, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry and Hamas condemned the action, viewing it as a violation of international law and an attempt to impose colonial realities on Palestinian lands. Approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank, a territory widely considered illegal for settlements by most of the international community. The ongoing tensions in the region have been exacerbated by the recent conflict that began on October 7, 2023, leading to significant casualties among Palestinians. Despite the criticisms, Israeli officials remain steadfast in their plans for settlement expansion, citing historical ties to the land as justification.