Colonates are widely considered illegal under international law, although Israel
Israel announced the approval of 22 new Jewish colonates in occupied West Bank – the largest expansion in decades. Several of them already exist as advanced posts, built without government authorization, but will now be legalized under Israeli law, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“The decision to create 22 new colonates in the West Bank reinforces our presence in the region and states our commitment to ensure the safety of Israel’s population centers,” Katz said. “It is a step towards reinforcing our eastern axis and responding to current security challenges.”
In response to the decision of the Israeli Council of Ministers to create 22 new colonates, Israeli NGO NOW tells Guardian that the annexation of the occupied territories and the expansion of colonates is Israel’s “central objective”.
“The decision of the Council of Ministers to create 22 new colonates – the most extensive measure of the genre since the Oslo agreements, in the terms of which Israel has pledged not to create new colonates – will drastically reshape the West Bank and further consolidate occupation,” says the NGO.
“At a time when both Israeli public opinion and the international community appeal to an immediate end of the war, the government makes it clear – once again and without restrictions – that prefers to deepen the occupation and advance with the annexation in fact to seek peace.”
The issue of colonates – which are widely considered illegal under international law, although Israel is contested it – is one of the most controversial areas of dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
Since occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem – lands that Palestinians want as part of a future state – Israel has built about 160 colonates, which houses about 700,000 Jews.
