Israel’s approval of new illegal settlements will further isolate East Jerusalem and deepen its unlawful occupation

Israel’s approval of plans to establish 13 new illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is yet another example of the abhorrent and utter disregard of the international rules-based order by Israel.

This forms another troubling development in the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which calls for urgent and substantive measures by all states.

The approved ‘Binyamin’ plan is yet another attempt to further fragment Palestinian territory and isolate East Jerusalem from its surrounding Palestinian communities. It is situated along Route 60, the central north-south artery running through the West Bank that links Palestinian cities, including Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, while also connecting major Israeli settlements.

Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is not an isolated policy decision but part of a long-standing strategy to entrench permanent Israeli control over occupied land, further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory, and prevent any prospects of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state.

The Binyamin plan represents a significant escalation of that policy, accelerating changes to the occupied territory that would create an irreversible status quo.

These measures are taking place in clear violation of international law. The transfer of an occupying power’s civilian population into occupied territory is prohibited under Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

This position was upheld by the International Court of Justice in its July 2024 Advisory Opinion which reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and laid down obligations on all States not to recognise, aid or assist the maintenance of the illegal situation, and to cooperate to bring it to an end, in order to cooperate towards the realisation of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The UK’s flimsy stance on settlements

The UK has consistently stated that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and that it supports a two-state solution. Yet these stated positions have not been matched by measures capable of preventing the continued expansion of the settlement enterprise.

As settlement construction accelerates, the gap between the UK’s legal commitments and its actions continues to widen.

The UK’s continued failure to adopt meaningful measures in response to the expansion of settlements risks falling short of its obligations under international law while continuously ignoring irreversible changes on the ground.

Órlaith Roe, International Centre of Justice for Palestinians public affairs and communications officer, said:

Israel’s intention here is clear – to deliberately reshape the geography and demographics of the occupied Palestinian territory in clear violation of international law, further fragmenting Palestinian communities and undermining Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The UK government cannot continue to ignore its obligations under international law and contradict its own position. It has been warned repeatedly that failing to take meaningful action would enable Israel to entrench and expand its illegal settlement enterprise. Yet that is exactly what has happened.

It is beyond disingenuous for the UK government to express shock or outrage while continuing to fall short of its legal obligations. International law requires States not only to recognise that settlements are illegal, but also not to aid or assist their maintenance and to take steps to bring the unlawful situation to an end.

The UK’s continued failure to act has helped create the conditions in which Israel has been able to deepen its assault on Palestinian self-determination.

Featured image via the Canary