Israel Sets 13 Jewish Colony of West Bank Independent, Palestine Condemns

Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to declare 13 Jewish settlements in the West Bank as independent. These settlements will be officially separated from the neighbouring communities and will become a self-governing entity rather than being administratively linked to other settlements said the Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday. 

Reaction from Palestine

The move, supported by the far-right government of Israel, will undermine Palestinian statehood prospects and will cause tensions. The Palestinian foreign ministry has criticised the approval of the separation of these neighbourhoods as disregarding legitimacy and resolution.

However, Israel is strengthening its control over the occupied territories.

This move will allow the settlements to operate with greater autonomy in matters like infrastructure and development, municipal governance and police. The settlements will be recognised as independent and will follow the approval of tens of thousands of housing units across the West Bank. 

“We continue to lead a revolution of normalisation and regulation in the settlements. Instead of hiding and apologising, we raise the flag, build and settle. This is another important step on the path to actual sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” said administer Smotrich.

The Israeli forces are caught by the fear of an attack by the Hamas-led militants, similar to the one that occurred on October 7, 2023. To counter terrorism in the West Bank, Israel’s military is conducting operations in the West Bank and targeting suspected militants.