The decision was made by the Israeli security cabinet and means a total of 69 settlements have been approved in recent years, according to a statement from Smotrich's office, without mentioning when the cabinet meeting was held.
The announcement came just days after the UN announced that the expansion of settlements – all illegal under international law – has reached its highest level since at least 2017, when this type of data began to be collected.
Right-wing extremist Smotrich is an outspoken supporter of this expansion and is a settler himself.
Smotrich: Blocking Palestinian state
"We are blocking the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state on the ground," the statement from the finance minister says. He describes the new establishments as taking place in "strategically critical" areas.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently condemned what he described as Israel's "relentless" expansion of settlements in occupied territory.
This "continues to fuel tensions, prevents access for Palestinians to their land and threatens the possibility of a fully independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state," Guterres said.
Dramatically increased violence
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War in 1967, where violence has increased sharply in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
Israeli forces and settlers have since killed at least 1,027 Palestinians – including both civilians and combatants, according to figures from the Palestinian Authority.
During the same period, at least 44 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank in Palestinian attacks and Israeli military operations, according to statistics from Israel.
