Israel has secretly approved 34 new settlements on the occupied West Bank in early April, according to Israeli media and the organization Peace Now. Ten of them are existing outposts now being legalized. Sweden and other EU countries condemn the move as a violation of international law.
Israeli media and the human rights group Peace Now report that the government has secretly approved 34 new settlements on the West Bank in early April. This adds to 68 settlements approved since Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government took office in 2022.
Ten of the new settlements are existing outposts now receiving legal status, while the rest have yet to be built. The decision has prompted strong international backlash.
Sweden's Foreign Ministry, along with other EU countries, describes the action as an "obvious violation of international law" that "undermines ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region." The statement highlights concerns over the development.
More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in West Bank settlements, home to about three million Palestinians. The approval could further complicate the situation in the area.
