Israel approves 22 West Bank settlements amid war with Hamas, pressure for Palestinian state

Legal Affairs correspondent Sarah Ben-Nun explains the context of settlement approval, touching on expansion during the Israel-Hamas War, IDF operations in the West Bank, and more.

A general view of houses in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
A general view of houses in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank
(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)

The government approved on Thursday the establishment of 22 new settlements in the West Bank, as part of a joint initiative by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The Jerusalem Post Legal Affairs correspondent Sarah Ben-Nun explains the context and implications of the decision, touching on settlement expansion during the Israel-Hamas War, IDF operations in the northern West Bank, and the upcoming French and Saudi summit on Palestinian statehood.