Israel Approves Settlement Near Bethlehem UNESCO Site

Israel has greenlit the establishment of a new settlement on a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the occupied West Bank, specifically near Bethlehem. Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right finance minister, announced the completion of plans for the Nahal Heletz settlement in the Gush Etzion area. Smotrich asserted that no international opposition would deter the expansion of Israeli settlements, emphasizing a commitment to countering efforts aimed at establishing a Palestinian state. The settlement project is seen as a significant encroachment on Palestinian land, which has dwindled to approximately 10% of its original size. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh reported that Smotrich's actions reflect a blatant disregard for international law, as the new settlement threatens the remaining agricultural land in the Bethlehem region. Analysts, including Muhannad Ayyash from the Palestinian think tank Al-Shabaka, argue that Israel's strategy aims to consolidate control over the entire territory, thereby fragmenting the Palestinian population and obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state. The proposed 60-hectare settlement, which received preliminary approval alongside four others in June, is positioned between Gush Etzion and Bethlehem. The Israeli anti-settlement organization Peace Now condemned the plan, labeling it a "wholesale attack" on the culturally significant area of Battir, known for its ancient agricultural terraces. The group warned that Israel's actions pose a severe threat to a region recognized for its historical and cultural value, as highlighted in a recent European Union report detailing Israel's accelerated settlement plans in the West Bank.