Israel has recently declared an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank, Evyatar, as “state land”, further expanding its illegal settlements and displacing Palestinians. This outpost, established in 2013 and evacuated in 2021, was among five others recently legalized by the Israeli government.
The land on which Evyatar sits measures 65 dunams, with Palestinians who own the land having the opportunity to challenge the decision in Israel’s highest court. The government aims to fully legalize the outpost if no challenges arise.
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been pushing for increased control over the West Bank, approving illegal settlement construction and prioritizing security protection for settlements. He has also made it clear that he wants to prevent the West Bank from ever becoming part of an independent Palestinian State.
Despite international recognition of Palestine by countries like Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia, Israel’s far-right government remains resistant to a two-state solution. For Palestinians, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as their capital, are essential components of any future state.