Ten of the settlements are already existing outposts that will now be legalized, while the rest have not yet been built, according to multiple reports. Settlements are considered illegal under international law. The 34 settlements are in addition to 68 that have already been approved since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government took office in 2022.
A spokesperson for Israel's Defense Ministry declined to comment, stating they do not comment on this issue. The exact date in early April when the settlements were approved remains unclear, as do the specific Israeli media outlets that reported the secret approval. Additionally, the locations of the 34 new settlements on the West Bank, the timeline for construction of those not yet built, and the names or details of the ten existing outposts being legalized have not been disclosed.
We do not comment on this issue.