Netanyahu promises to “legalise” Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory

Netanyahu promises to “legalise” Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory
Photo by Svetlana Bar via Pixabay

11-23-2022

Annachiara Canetta

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

 

After a meeting with Ben Gvir, Netanyahu has promised to “legalise” various illegal settlements in the West Bank within 60 days of the start of the new government. [1] The two politicians’ parties are likely to form the most right-wing government in Israeli history in the next few weeks. [2]

All settlements are illegal under international law, as they violate article 49 of the Geneva Convention. [3] They are normally considered illegal under Israeli law, and Israeli authorities claim they are created by private groups or individuals. However, it is proved that Israel actively supports settlers’ activities, both financially and in terms of infrastructure. [4] Legalising the outposts under Israeli law as Netanyahu promised will make it easier for them to expand and enlarge the related infrastructure around them (such as roads or checkpoints). Moreover, it could encourage more people to move to the settlements or to participate in their construction.

One of the settlements that would be “legalised” is that of Homesh, between Jenin and Nablus: its presence also contributes to the tension in the area, as settlers attack Palestinians and are often protected by the armed forces. [5] Tension in the area recently increased, as new armed resistance groups emerged: consequently, Israeli checkpoints and controls became more frequent. This is an example of how settlements strongly contribute to increased violence, and how they contribute to human rights violations for Palestinians.

 

Sources and further reading:

 

[1] Tahhan, Z. A. (2022, November 17). Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to legalise West Bank settler outposts. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/17/netanyahu-ben-gvir-vow-to-legalize-west-bank-settler-outposts

[2] Al Jazeera. (2022b, November 13). Netanyahu formally tasked with forming Israel’s new government. Benjamin Netanyahu News | Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/13/israels-netanyahu-tapped-to-form-next-government

[3] Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. (1949).  “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”

[4] Settlements and outposts. (n.d.-b). Yesh Din. https://www.yesh-din.org/en/category/settlements-and-outposts-en/

[5] Tahhan, Z. A. (2022, November 17). Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to legalise West Bank settler outposts. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/17/netanyahu-ben-gvir-vow-to-legalize-west-bank-settler-outposts