'This is our land' - Netanyahu vows more settlements across occupied West Bank
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu vowed to continue expanding Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank.
- He cited 104 communities and 160 farms, adding that “more is yet to come.”
- The ICJ has called on Israel to halt new settlement activity in the occupied territory.
The Israeli prime minister said his government was “preparing the ground” for increased Jewish immigration as settlement expansion continues across the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements across the occupied West Bank, saying his government is “preparing the ground” for a wave of Jewish immigration.
Speaking on Wednesday, Netanyahu pointed to the number of communities and farming outposts established under his government and said further expansion was planned.
“This is our land, and there is none other,” Netanyahu said. “You are preparing the ground for a very large immigration that will come.”
“One cannot ignore the numbers. One hundred and four communities that we established and arranged together, and 160 farms. And more is yet to come,” he continued.
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His remarks come as Israel moves to expand and formalise settlements and farming outposts across the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s security cabinet approved plans in July for 13 new communities in the Binyamin region. Local officials said work on the first sites was already underway.
Israeli officials commonly refer to the West Bank by the biblical names Judea and Samaria, while rejecting international legal positions concerning the territory and Israeli settlements there.
In a 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice said Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were being maintained in violation of international law. The court also called on Israel to halt new settlement activity.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
