Highlights: In the West Bank, the number of illegal settlements has exploded since the start of the war. Wild settlements, illegal in the eyes of international law and Israeli law, have multiplied since October 7. Over the past four months, the Israeli organization Peace Now has identified ten new illegal settlements. The government has almost never intervened to prevent or dismantle them, leaving the settlers to act freely, points out the NGO La Paix Now. Never before have so many wild colonies been created in the space of a year.

This is one of the consequences of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas. Wild settlements, illegal in the eyes of international law and Israeli law, have multiplied since…

In the West Bank, the number of illegal settlements has exploded since the start of the war

This is one of the consequences of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas. Wild settlements, illegal in the eyes of international law and Israeli law, have multiplied since October 7. These constructions are located in the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. A policy of established fact on the part of radical settlers which is accentuated during periods of high tensions.

Aerial view of the settlement of Elon Moreh, in the West Bank, near Nablus, August 17, 2023. AFP - MENAHEM KAHANA

By: RFI Follow

With our special correspondents in Tel Aviv

Guilhem Delteil

and

Nicolas Benita

Over the past four months, the Israeli organization

Peace Now

has identified ten new illegal settlements, which have swarmed in the West Bank since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. This represents almost 40% of the number of these illegal constructions, including in the eyes of Israeli law last year.

Read alsoWest Bank: Israeli settlers denounce interference from France after the announcement of sanctions

These radical settlers also paved access roads. “

The roads are very strategic: convenient access means it will be easier to expand the outpost, protect it and bring people there

,” explains Yonathan Mizrachi, co-director of the observatory of the colonization of Peace Now. “

And then the roads are gaining ground. The Palestinians say to themselves:

"There are settlers on this road. Maybe I should avoid it

. "
Roads are therefore a very powerful tool.

A war that benefits the settlers

Already during the last Intifada in the early 2000s, Peace Now had observed an acceleration in illegal construction. “

Historically, settlers take advantage of periods of war or when the international community is not really following what is happening in the West Bank to increase their activities, their illegal outposts. So they are taking advantage of this war to expand and build as much as they can throughout the West Bank

,” continues Yonathan Mizrachi.

Never before have so many wild colonies been created in the space of a year. The organization also points out that in 2023, the government has almost never intervened to prevent or dismantle them, leaving the settlers to act freely.

Read alsoOccupied West Bank: record number of illegal settlements in 2023, points out the NGO La Paix Now

In the West Bank, the number of illegal settlements has exploded since the start of the war

In the West Bank, the number of illegal settlements has exploded since the start of the war

A war that benefits the settlers

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