Israel's security cabinet has approved the establishment of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, escalating a construction drive that defies international law and complicates fragile peace negotiations. The decision marks a significant hardening of Israel's expansionist policy, championed by its far-right government members.

This latest approval is a direct challenge to the internationally-backed two-state solution, a framework Kenya has historically supported. The move comes as the United States attempts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, a plan that includes a potential "pathway" to a Palestinian state—an outcome the settlement expansion is explicitly designed to prevent, according to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

A Record-Breaking Expansion

The decision brings the total number of new settlements approved in the last few years to 69, which Smotrich's office noted is a new record. According to the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now, the number of official settlements in the West Bank has surged from 141 in 2022 to 210 with this latest announcement.

The approvals include a mix of entirely new settlements and the retroactive legalization of outposts built without previous government permits. Among those retroactively legalized are Kadim and Ganim, two settlements that were dismantled by Israel in 2005 as part of its disengagement from the Gaza Strip, signaling a reversal of past policy.

Defiance of International Law

The global consensus is that the settlements are illegal under international law. Numerous United Nations resolutions have affirmed that the settlements constitute a "flagrant violation" of the Fourth Geneva Convention and represent a major obstacle to peace. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has also reaffirmed their illegality.

For Kenyans, this development tests the nation's diplomatic standing. While Kenya officially supports a two-state solution, its recent voting patterns at the UN have been described as inconsistent, reflecting a complex balance between historical positions and contemporary geopolitical pressures. This expansion further polarizes the international stage on which Kenya operates.

• Total New Settlements Approved (Recent Years): 69
• Total Official Settlements Now: 210 (up from 141 in 2022)
• Jewish Settlers in West Bank: Over 500,000 (excluding East Jerusalem)
• Legal Status: Widely considered illegal under international law

Finance Minister Smotrich, a settler himself and a vocal proponent of expansion, stated the move was intended to block the creation of a Palestinian state. "We will continue to develop, build, and settle the land of our ancestral inheritance," he declared in a statement.

As this construction surge creates new facts on the ground, the path to a lasting peace in the Middle East appears more obstructed than ever, leaving nations like Kenya to navigate an increasingly challenging diplomatic landscape.