Israel's government has approved the establishment of 34 new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, according to the Israeli watchdog group Peace Now. This decision, made by the cabinet on April 1 and reported on April 9, 2026, includes many outposts in remote areas and has been condemned by the Palestinian Presidency as a violation of international law. The move occurs amidst a documented rise in settler attacks on Palestinians, with at least six Palestinians killed by settlers this year, leading to the displacement of approximately 700 Palestinians since early 2025. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been actively promoting settlement construction, which far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich states aims to prevent Palestinian statehood.