How Israel Used the War in Gaza to Accelerate Settlements in the West Bank

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has entrenched Israeli control of the West Bank, vastly increasing the number of "authorized" settlements and unauthorized outposts there. Violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has also increased, and more than a thousand people have been killed since October 7th, per the United Nations."

"President Donald Trump has half-heartedly warned the Netanyahu government against formally annexing the territory, but Netanyahu appears to believe that he can continue his expansionist policies without American sanction. Indeed, just over two weeks ago, the Trump Administration announced-via its Embassy in Jerusalem-that it would offer temporary passport services at two Israeli settlements in the West Bank."

"The bottom line is that what we've been seeing is an acceleration of annexation at a significant pace. I think a lot of what we see now is a continuation and an evolution of what we've seen for decades. But there are also parts of what we see now that are more revolutionary than evolutionary."

Prime Minister Netanyahu has significantly expanded Israeli control over the West Bank through authorized settlements and unauthorized outposts, resulting in increased violence against Palestinians with over 1,000 deaths since October 7th according to UN data. Despite Trump's mild warnings against formal annexation, Netanyahu continues expansionist policies believing he can proceed without American opposition. The Trump Administration recently announced it would provide temporary passport services at two Israeli settlements in the West Bank, effectively legitimizing their presence. Experts characterize current developments as both a continuation of decades-long policies and a revolutionary acceleration of annexation efforts, with October 7th and the Gaza conflict accelerating settlement expansion.

Read at The New Yorker