UN Secretary-General Reiterates Israel's West Bank Settlements are Illegal

JAKARTA - UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their related infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a daily press conference, Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep concern over the Israeli authorities' granting of "city" status to the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze'ev in the occupied West Bank, reported by WAFA (17/7).

He emphasized that the administrative designation did not change its legal status under international law as part of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General stressed that Israeli settlements remain the main obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and building a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

According to him, Secretary-General Guterres continues to call on Israel to stop all colonial expansion activities and related actions in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, while also referring to the opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024.

It is known that the Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday said that the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the construction of new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, so that the number of settlements allowed by the Government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be 104 since 2022.

In a post on the social media X Smotrich said the Cabinet had approved his proposal to establish a new settlement near the Sanur settlement in the northern West Bank, reported Anadolu.

Smotrich described the move as part of a "historic revolution" in the occupied West Bank, claiming it would prevent the formation of a Palestinian state.

"One hundred and four settlements and more than 160 farms will form a defensive wall" for several Israeli cities, he said.

The announcement comes amid an acceleration of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank ahead of Israel's general election scheduled for October 27.

On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the Security Cabinet had secretly approved plans in March 2026 to establish 34 new illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank.