Israel approves 100 new West Bank settlements amid election pressure

As Israel prepares for elections in October, there is a significant increase in settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. This surge is raising alarms about the settler movement's efforts to solidify its presence in the region, despite violations of international law. Last week, the United Nations reported that attacks by Israeli settlers, often in conjunction with Israeli forces, and the establishment of illegal settlements have reached unprecedented levels.

This spike in settlement activity coincides with a heightened political climate as members of Israel's hard right aim to rally support ahead of the elections. Over the past parliamentary term, the Israeli government has intensified its control over the West Bank, transitioning authority from military to civilian governance. This has included accelerated settlement planning and infrastructure expansion, positioning the settler agenda as a focal point of Israeli politics.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the settler movement, is facing uncertainty about his party's future in the upcoming elections. Polls suggest that his Religious Zionist Party may struggle to clear the electoral threshold necessary to secure seats in the Knesset. Analysts describe a frantic effort within the party to bolster its settlement initiatives and maintain the backing of its core supporters.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently highlighted that since the current coalition took power in 2022, the government has authorized the establishment of 104 illegal settlements and 160 settlement farms in the West Bank. Smotrich has also advanced the controversial E1 settlement project, which connects East Jerusalem to existing settlements and has been characterized as a move that undermines the possibility of a Palestinian state. As the elections approach, the dynamics within the far-right factions of Israeli politics may significantly shape the future of the settlement expansion and the conflict in the region.