The Netanyahu government is going ahead with one of the most ambitious settlement programmes the West Bank has seen in a generation. Championed by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, it envisages between around 70 new settlement sites with hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding. Those in favour call it a strategic move to entrench Israel's presence across the territory. Critics say it is designed to so thoroughly transform the West Bank's demographic and geographic reality that the prospect of a Palestinian state recedes further.
The financial scale of the project is substantial. Estimates suggest the government will spend close to $400 million over several years. An initial allocation of about $50 million has already been approved to prepare construction plans and complete the necessary regulatory work.
The government's strategy centres on rapidly establishing a physical presence at designated locations before lengthy planning procedures are completed. Draft proposals call for the placement of 15 mobile homes and two communal structures at each new site. With the first settlements in place, additional money will be directed towards developing the permanent infrastructure needed to sustain them, from roads and electricity networks to water systems and public services.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to expand Israeli infrastructure across the West Bank. Earlier this year, the government approved approximately $340 million for roads linking existing and newly approved settlements, explaining that these were necessary to strengthen connectivity and security. At the same time, Israel's Higher Planning Council approved plans for 2,162 new housing units in existing settlements.
The new settlements are coming up at strategically significant locations. Many are concentrated along Highway 90 in the Jordan Valley and in the South Hebron Hills. These areas have been chosen to create territorial continuity between existing Israeli settlements and to reinforce Israeli control over key sections of the West Bank.
Critics say the plan goes beyond simple population growth. By linking settlements across large stretches of territory, they argue, Israel is creating a network that fragments Palestinian population centres and reduces the possibility of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state. Smotrich has been explicit about his objectives, describing the settlements as national projects intended to strengthen Israel's hold on the land and prevent the emergence of what he calls an Arab state in the territory.
Since taking office, Smotrich has described government policy in the West Bank as a "revolution in Judea and Samaria", using the biblical term favoured by many Israeli nationalists. He has pointed to the approval of tens of thousands of housing units and the establishment of more than 160 agricultural farms, which have expanded Israeli control over large areas of land.
Domestic political considerations are also driving the accelerated pace of expansion. With speculation growing that the Knesset could dissolve and trigger early elections, members of the governing coalition appear eager to push through projects that would be difficult for future governments to reverse.
To achieve this, officials are attempting to establish infrastructure on the ground before all legal and planning procedures are completed. The goal is to create irreversible realities that remain in place regardless of future political changes. According to reports, the government has sought to minimise public attention and potential international criticism by submitting aspects of the proposal to the smaller security cabinet rather than pursuing the normal civilian approval process, which can take years.
The anti-settlement organisation Peace Now has strongly criticised the move. It accuses the government of using public funds to leave behind a lasting legacy that future administrations will struggle to undo. The group argues that the October 7, 2023 attacks demonstrated the failure of policies aimed at managing rather than resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, yet the government continues to pursue measures that deepen tensions and violence.
The push to build comes as the West Bank grows ever more volatile. A series of recent incidents has clearly demonstrated the fragility of the security environment, with confrontations between settlers and Palestinians stoking broader fears about an escalating cycle of violence. Human rights bodies and international observers have pointed towards a rising trend of settler attacks, and some Palestinian communities are reported to have been left with no choice but to flee their homes.
International criticism has also intensified. Most countries regard Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as illegal under international law. In a significant diplomatic step, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France and Norway recently imposed sanctions on organisations and individuals accused of financing or facilitating settler violence.
Human rights organisations have become increasingly vocal. Amnesty International has accused the Israeli government of contributing to the displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and has criticised real estate events in Western countries that market properties located in settlements.
Since the current coalition came to power in late 2022, it has approved 103 settlements and legalised numerous outposts that had previously been considered illegal even under Israeli law. Pouring money into infrastructure, accelerating construction and abandoning normal planning procedures, the government is moving to cement Israeli control and determine the shape of the territory for decades ahead.
