Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the dismantling of unauthorized settler outposts in the West Bank, according to two individuals familiar with the matter. The directive comes amid increasing pressure from the United States to curb settler violence against Palestinians.
The order specifically targets outposts established by settlers without official state authorization. These outposts typically comprise prefabricated structures and house small numbers of settlers. While the Israeli state has previously demolished such structures, it has also formally recognized others, enabling them to receive government funding. The timeline for the commencement of this operation remains unclear.
The international community, including United Nations bodies and most governments, considers all Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under international law, viewing the territory as occupied. Israel, however, contends that the territory is disputed rather than occupied.
The directive follows significant pressure from the United States, Israel's principal ally, to address settler violence. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently denounced violent settlers as terrorists, calling for stringent consequences after meeting with Palestinian Americans in a West Bank town. Reports suggest the prime minister's orders may affect approximately 100 outposts across the occupied territory.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed that Netanyahu had issued instructions to "evict places built in Areas A and B," referring to areas where most Palestinians reside under the Oslo Accords. Smotrich, who oversees settlement housing projects, stated his disagreement with the decision but noted that the government had made substantial progress in advancing settlements in Area C.
According to Peace Now, an Israeli organization critical of settlement expansion, there are 340 outposts and 146 formally recognized settlements in the West Bank. Recent incidents include settlers besieging Palestinian homes, with Israeli authorities rarely apprehending or prosecuting perpetrators of settler violence, despite official condemnation.
