Israel’s security cabinet has approved a new proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz to recognise 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. 

The settlements are spread across five regional councils. A total of 69 settlements have been recognised under Smotrich.

Reacting to the decision, the finance minister said: “We are preventing the establishment of a Palestinian terror state on the ground.”

All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.