The US State Department criticized Israel on Thursday for its decision to legalize three wildcat outposts deep within the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a junior minister in the Defense Ministry overseeing settlement affairs, announced the move. The outposts in question are Avigayil, Asahel, and Beit Hoglah. Notably, this marks the first time in over a decade that Israel is legalizing outposts to serve as independent settlements rather than as part of existing settlements.
The international community views all settlements in the West Bank as illegal. However, Israel distinguishes between settlements built with permits on state-owned land and illegal outposts constructed without the necessary approvals, often on privately-owned Palestinian land.
These three outposts were part of a list of nine that the Israeli government announced in February to legalize following a deadly terror attack. This decision came amid pressure from the coalition’s far-right, pro-settlement elements.
The Civil Administration, a body within the Defense Ministry overseen by Smotrich, delineated the municipal boundaries for these outposts, which were signed off by Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox of the IDF’s Central Command. The next step involves obtaining a masterplan from the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Committee to retroactively approve existing structures and construct new buildings, a process that could take several months.
These developments coincide with the Biden administration’s efforts to facilitate a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, potentially requiring significant concessions from Israel to advance a two-state solution. Some of these gestures might involve transferring West Bank territory to the control of the Palestinian Authority—a move likely to face opposition from far-right lawmakers like Smotrich.
In response to inquiries about the outpost legalizations, a State Department spokesperson reiterated the US stance: the expansion of settlements or outposts undermines the possibility of a two-state solution, intensifies tensions, and erodes trust between Israelis and Palestinians. The US strongly opposes settlement expansion and the retroactive legalization of previously illegal settlements, urging Israel to refrain from such activities. The United States remains committed to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing the need for actions that bring both parties closer to negotiations on a two-state solution.
This statement aligns with previous remarks from the Biden administration regarding Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, expressing concern over the high rate of approvals during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s first six months in office.