Israel has signed an 8.5 billion-shekel ($2.3 billion) agreement to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the construction of 12,000 new housing units. The plan also includes major infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating settlement growth across the territory. The move is expected to draw international criticism as concerns over the future of a two-state solution continue to grow.
The agreement was signed during an official ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Land Authority Director General Yehuda Eliyahu, and Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. Israeli media described the initiative as a significant step that would reshape the region and strengthen settlement development. Officials said the agreement would provide fresh momentum for expanding residential areas and upgrading infrastructure.
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According to Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now, around 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the occupied West Bank, while another 250,000 reside in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. Settlement construction has remained one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians and much of the international community view the expansion as an obstacle to lasting peace.
The United Nations has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law. UN officials have warned that continued settlement expansion undermines prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. International bodies have consistently called on Israel to halt construction in occupied areas.
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Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state based on international resolutions that do not recognize Israel’s occupation of the territory since 1967 or its 1980 annexation of the city. The latest agreement is likely to intensify diplomatic tensions as efforts to revive peace negotiations remain stalled.