The Israeli human rights organization “Peace Now” reported that 7 “illegal” settlement outposts were established during the past six months in an area under Palestinian civil control in the occupied West Bank.
The organization, which is interested in monitoring settlement activities, said on its website yesterday, Sunday, that “although Area B is under the civil control of the Palestinian Authority, 7 illegal settlement outposts have been established in that area in the West Bank.”
She explained that 5 of these settlements are located in a large area of land east and southeast of the city of Bethlehem in Area B, in which the Palestinian Authority is prohibited from building.
The human rights organization indicated that one of the other two settlement outposts was established east of the Ofra settlement in the center of the West Bank, on lands owned by the Palestinian village of Ein Yabrud.
As for the other outpost, it is located in the north near the “Shilo” settlement, south of the illegal “Adei Ad” settlement outpost, built on lands belonging to the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya.
The Israeli organization explained that the construction of these settlement outposts is a precedent since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.
She pointed out that some Palestinians were displaced from these areas for fear of attacks by settlers who later seized their homes.
The “Peace Now” organization indicated that all seven settlement outposts were established during a period ranging from the last two to six months.
The Oslo Accords were concluded between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, and stipulated mutual recognition and a declaration of peace principles.
The United Nations considers Israeli settlement illegal, and calls in vain for its halt, warning that it undermines the chances of addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of a two-state solution.
The number of settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, reached more than 750,000 settlers living in more than 170 settlements, in addition to hundreds of settlement outposts.
Settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories has witnessed a noticeable increase since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power in December 2022.