Israel’s cabinet approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that brings the total number of new settlements to 69, a record, according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The approval, announced on Sunday, raises the West Bank’s settlement count to 210, up from 141 in 2022, as reported by Peace Now. The new settlements include Kadim and Ganim, two outposts dismantled in the 2005 disengagement plan.
Settlement Expansion and Legalization
The cabinet decision also retroactively legalized some previously established outposts or neighborhoods of existing settlements and created new settlements on land where Palestinians were evacuated. Smotrich’s office said the approval came on Dec. 11 and that the development had been classified until now. Settlements range from single dwellings to high-rises, and the total number of new settlements over the past years now stands at 69.
Surge in Attacks on Palestinians
During October’s olive harvest, settlers across the territory launched an average of eight attacks daily, the most since the United Nations humanitarian office began collecting data in 2006. The attacks continued in November, with the UN recording at least 136 more by Nov. 24. Settlers burned cars, desecrated mosques, ransacked industrial plants and destroyed cropland. Israeli authorities have issued occasional condemnations of the violence.
Clashes Result in Two Palestinian Deaths
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed Saturday night in clashes with Israel’s military in the northern part of the West Bank. Israel’s military said a militant was shot and killed after he threw a block at troops in Qabatiya, and another militant was killed after he hurled explosives at troops operating in the town of Silat al-Harithiya. The Health Ministry identified the Palestinian killed in Qabatiya as 16-year-old Rayan Abu Muallah. Palestinian media aired brief security footage of the incident, where the youth appears to emerge from an alley and is shot by troops as he approaches them without throwing anything. Israel’s military said the incident is under review. The Health Ministry identified the second man as Ahmad Ziyoud, 22.
A Catholic Mass in Gaza City
The top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, visited Gaza’s only Catholic church and celebrated a pre-Christmas Mass on Sunday that included the baptism of a baby. Dozens of Palestinians gathered in the Holy Family Parish. Pizzaballa said, “It is different this time,” and added, “I saw the new desire for a new life.” The Holy Family compound was hit by fragments from an Israeli shell in July, killing three people in what Israel called an accident and expressed regret over. The parish has served as a refuge for Christians and Muslims, sheltering hundreds of displaced people. “They welcomed us with great love and respect,” said Nazih Lam’e Habashi, 78, who stays there with his family. “This is the third holiday we are marking since the war.” “God willing, life will improve,” added 67-year-old Najla Saba.
Key Takeaways
- Israel’s cabinet approved 19 new West Bank settlements, raising the total to 210.
- Settler attacks on Palestinians surged in October and November, with the UN recording over 136 incidents.
- Two Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces, including a 16-year-old boy.
The approval of new settlements, the rise in settler violence, the deaths in clashes, and the Catholic mass in Gaza all highlight the continued tension and humanitarian challenges in the region.
