Israeli media have revealed that the Israeli Security Cabinet secretly approved the construction of 22 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that has drawn concern from the international community.
According to a report by Ynet, the decision was made two weeks ago and includes plans to re-establish the dismantled settlements of Homesh and Sa-Nur. These outposts were evacuated during the 2005 unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip, but are now slated for reconstruction in the area Israel calls “Judea and Samaria” — a term rejected by international law and UN bodies that consider the West Bank to be occupied Palestinian territory.
The proposal was submitted by Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom are known for their hardline views on settlement expansion.
The revival of Homesh and Sa-Nur signals a major policy shift, effectively reversing parts of the 2005 disengagement plan. Critics argue this move undermines prospects for peace and deepens Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, further isolating it diplomatically.
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