Israel’s Smotrich announces expansion of West Bank settlements with 13 new sites

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on July 6, 2026, a "revolution in settlement" expansion, intending to extend illegal outposts beyond the occupied West Bank into the Negev and Galilee. This declaration follows the recent approval by the Israeli cabinet for the establishment of 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank.

Details of the Settlement Expansion

The newly approved settlements, deemed illegal under international law, will be located in strategically vital areas of the West Bank. Officials claim these expansions will fortify Israeli control over the occupied Palestinian territory. The project particularly focuses on critical corridors along Route 60, which connects major Palestinian cities like Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, and stretches eastward towards the Jordan Valley.

Palestinian leaders have expressed concerns that this expansion will further isolate occupied East Jerusalem, undermining the viability of a two-state solution. Following the formation of the most far-right government in Israel's history in 2022, there has been a notable surge in settlement activities.

Surge in Settlement Activities Since 2022

Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office, the number of settlement outposts has dramatically increased. The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR) reported that the average number of outposts grew from 8 annually between 2012 and 2022 to 32 in 2023, with an astonishing 62 new outposts established in 2024, backed by 75 million shekels (approximately $20 million) in government funding. In 2025, this trend continued with a record of 86 new outposts across the West Bank.

• 8 outposts annually (2012-2022)
• 32 outposts (2023)
• 62 outposts (2024)
• 86 outposts (2025)
• 75 million shekels funding

Impact on Palestinian Communities

The rapid expansion of settlements has coincided with an increase in violence against Palestinians. A recent United Nations inquiry reported a 130 percent surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and agricultural lands since 2023. In a recent incident, settlers destroyed the main electricity line in the village of al-Maniya, cutting power and causing panic among residents.

Additionally, settlers vandalized greenhouses near Tulkarem and seized control of the Ein Rawabi spring, crucial for local Bedouin families. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CWRC) documented 1,659 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in May alone, with settlers responsible for 551 incidents, primarily in areas like Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron.

In May, 70 demolition operations were carried out, destroying 155 Palestinian structures, with the Jerusalem governorate bearing the brunt of these demolitions.