Palestine: Occupying Regime Approves Three West Bank Settler Outposts
The decision was announced by the far-right Israeli cabinet led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The three remote outposts in question are Beit Hoglah, situated between the city of Jericho and the Dead Sea, as well as Avigail and Asael, located in the southern al-Khalil (Hebron) Hills region.
This authorization effectively transforms these outposts into illegal settlements, which remain unrecognized by the international community.
Notably, Israel's decision to "legalize" these settler outposts came on the heels of a phone call between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and prime minister Netanyahu. During the call, the two sides discussed the prospect of "deepening Israel's integration in the region."
In response, a spokesperson from the US State Department reiterated Washington's consistent stance, emphasizing that the expansion of settlements undermines the geographic viability of a two-state solution and exacerbates tensions. The spokesperson firmly stated, "We strongly oppose the advancement of settlements... and urge Israel to refrain from this activity."
Currently, over 700,000 Israelis reside in more than 280 settlements established since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements are regarded as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories. The United Nations Security Council has issued several resolutions condemning Israel's settlement activities in these occupied areas.
Source: Agencies
