Israel settlers establish new illegal outpost near Jericho

Israeli settlers have today established a new illegal outpost near the Palestinian Bedouin community along the Al-Ma’arajat Road, based northwest of Jericho city in the eastern occupied West Bank.

Hassan Mleihat, the general supervisor of the local Al-Baidar Organisation for Defending Bedouin Rights, told Wafa news agency that settlers set up a tent on the community’s land early this morning and performed provocative dances in the area.

He also noted the presence of five settler outposts near the Al-Ma’arajat Road, with four established since 7 October 2023.

These outposts are part of ongoing efforts to expand Israeli settlers’ control over the border areas between the Ramallah and Jericho governorates.

Israeli estimates indicate that more than 720,000 Israelis now live in illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement construction has accelerated significantly since Israel’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came to power in December 2022.

The international community, including the UN, considers these settlements illegal under international law. The UN has repeatedly warned that continued settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution, a framework seen as key to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a significant legal development in July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling that declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories “illegal”. The court called for the immediate evacuation of all existing settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Despite global condemnation and calls for a halt to settlement activity, Israel continues its expansion efforts, deepening tensions in the region.

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